The Halfway to January Cancer Bash is canceled this year, but the organizers are turning their attention to a similar cause: Helping one of the founders.

A benefit is planned Saturday for Tracy (Cooling) Schilling, who helped form the bash after a bout with breast cancer about eight years ago. Now, Schilling is receiving treatments for Stage 3 colon cancer and she hasn’t worked since November.

“Because she’s not working through all this time, my family and the community decided to have a benefit for her,” said Todd Cooling, Schilling’s brother.

Family and friends convinced Schilling to cancel the Halfway to January Cancer Bash this year, but Cooling and many of the volunteers will instead hold the benefit for Schilling.

The benefit will start with a porkloin dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lyle American Legion, 112 Grove St., where a freewill offering will be taken. At 7 p.m., a live auction will be held at the Lyle Liquor Store, 211 First St. Cooling is also selling raffle tickets for a cash drawing.

Though Schilling still wanted to hold the bash, he and others convinced her otherwise. Cooling said they’re trying to help her be more comfortable and alleviate any financial stress.

“The community’s trying to help her out,” he said.