RUMFORD — Residents and businesses are rallying to host a benefit dance next month for a local mechanic and drummer who has esophageal cancer.

Resident Lora Cotton said Tim Smith of Rumford, her friend of many years, was diagnosed with the disease in December. Smith is a mechanic and manager of Archie’s Inc., a truck garage in Mexico, and has been a drummer in several local bands, including Smith Crossing, she said.

“He’s undergone radiation and chemo treatments,” Cotton said, and doctors are trying to help him gain weight and get his strength back before moving forward with the next procedure.

“In order to help out with some of these medical treatments, we’re holding the benefit dance,” Cotton said. 

The event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 11, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, 13 Oxford St., Rumford. The doors open at 4 p.m. and music starts at 5 p.m. with performances by Kenny and Janine Murray, Derek Blodgett, Kevin Libby and Troy Provencher.

There will also be a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle.

“This really is a group effort,” Cotton said. “I organized it, but there are a bunch of volunteers who helped.”

Volunteers include Tim’s children and Mary Bachelder, one of Smith’s close friends, she said.

Local businesses are donating items such as gift certificates and free oil changes, and people are making gift baskets, she said.

“I’ve lived here for 15 years and lived in a lot of other places before that,” Cotton said. “I’ve never seen people come together to help someone the way they do here.”

For more information, call Cotton at 562-8575, or Mary at 357-9680.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net