The community is coming together with the help of a popular band to support an Austin firefighter and his family as he battles cancer.

A cancer benefit and concert by Cloud Cult will be held for Brian Staska and his family from 1 to 10 p.m on Saturday at the Mower County Fairgrounds.

Staska, a part-time Austin firefighter, is battling Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, a rare type of stage four cancer that originated in the appendix and spread throughout his abdomen.

Staska and his wife, Wanda, have three daughters: Brooke, 16, Kaitlyn, 14, and Maddie, 10.

Staska is also a member of the Brownsdale fire department as well as the fire coordinator at Riverland Community College.

Austin firefighter Terry Peterson said Staska’s work over the years gives people reason to lend a helping hand.

“Brian has touched so many lives through his teaching and training it truly cannot be measured,” Peterson said. “When someone is always doing things that help other people, other people are usually going to be there when they need help, and that’s exactly what is happening.”

Due to the impact his work has had on communities, there has been a large amount of support for Saturday’s benefit.

Donations coming from nearly every fire department in southern Minnesota as well as many small businesses, according to Peterson.

Saturday’s festivities begin at 1 p.m. Events will include, a silent auction, a bean bag tournament, several fire trucks on display, an appearance from the Austin Bruins Mascot, Bruiser, and the Cloud Cult concert begins at 8 p.m.