â??Day for Dougâ??

GLENBURN- A Glenburn resident and his family face mounting medical bills, even with insurance, as he undergoes treatment for recently-discovered cancer found in four places after a liver transplant.

Family and friends have united to organize a fundraiser to assist Doug Shook, 51, and his family to help pay for medical bills, which have grown exponentially. The fundraiser, called Day for Doug, will feature activities and food, including a chicken barbecue, clam bake, Chinese raffles and live music.

Shook had recently received a liver transplant after being on the waiting list for years. After receiving a new liver, Shook was beset with medical problems. Doctors discovered cancerous tissue in his liver and other parts of his body. He is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

His friends and family came together to help him and his family in their time of need.

"Family and friends are trying to help them through the difficulties. It's emotionally demanding, it's financially devastating. We want to help them any way we can," said Barry Kaplan, Shook's relative and co-owner of Everything Natural, a benefit sponsor. "We're trying to give the family a ray of hope."

Organizers enlisted the help of local businesses to sponsor the event. Sponsors include Everything Natural, Servicemaster by Griffing and Cooper's Seafood.

Sandy Materna, Shook's sister-in-law, has been credited with bringing the benefit from great idea to reality.

"The response has been amazing," said Materna, who has experience with fundraising for charitable causes but never for someone in her own family. "When the shoe's on the other foot, and people are coming forward and doing things, you just appreciate it that much more."

Day for Doug will take place at the Dalton Carnival Grounds Aug. 25 from noon to 10 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Donations will be accepted. A voucher for the chicken barbecue costs $8. Proceeds are intended to ease the strain placed on his family. Donations can be mailed or delivered to Penn Security, 1100 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit, PA, 18411 or Everything Natural, 426 S. State St., Clarks Summit, PA, 18411. For details, refer to the event's Facebook page, Facebook.com/DayForDoug.