Joy Hansen, a lifelong resident of Hopkins, received life-changing news in May that no one wants to hear.

She has breast cancer.

Today, she’s off to  undergo a mastectomy –– knowing she will be having some type of treatment for more than a year.

Fortunately, Hansen isn’t facing her cancer alone. The residents of Hopkins are behind her.

A benefit will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Hopkins Community Building to help the Hansen family offset expenses for Joy’s treatments and trips to Kansas City.

The Hopkins Fire Department is donating the meat, J.R. Ogle has offered to do the cooking and a number of community members are pitching in, donating food and raffle items, to make the event a success.

The menu for the free-will offering meal is pulled pork, slaw, baked beans, potato salad, pies and soft ice cream.

Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the evening. Raffle prizes include a Dewalt cordless drill, an overnight package including dinner at Pagalias, movie tickets at the Hangar and a stay at the Holiday Inn Express , North Nodaway items, quilts, Candy Bouquet items, a North Nodaway stepping stone, wood products and many other items.

Dee Wallace, who is helping head the event, said the Hopkins community has banded together many times to help people out in times of need. When her husband, Dick, was in a 4-wheeler accident a few years ago, the community rallied around them to raise funds for their extra expenses.

“This is a real community effort,” Wallace said. “It’s for a good cause and the Hopkins community is always good to help people in need. You don’t understand until it happens to you. Even if you have insurance there are extra expenses that you don’t count on.”

Ed and Joy Hansen grew up in Hopkins, started dating as teenagers and got married shortly after graduation. In July, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Hansen’s maternal grandmother lost her battle with breast cancer a few years back. Her mother, Jodi Griffey, has lived with the fear that she would someday be diagnosed with breast cancer.

The news that her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer was devastating; however, she said she feels confident that, with the treatment available she’ll be OK.

“There have been so many advances in medicine and technology in the last few years,” she said. “I feel like things will be fine. St. Luke’s is a great place for my daughter to be.”

Griffey said she feels very fortunate the Hopkins community is being so supportive for her daughter and son-in-law.