Johnson Benefit:

Event drawing strong community support, donations still being accepted

— As the date for Chamber of Commerce president Royce Johnson’s benefit draws near, more and more donations are pouring in, according to event organizer Kim Wilkins.

The chili supper and auction, planned for March 13, will raise money to help cover Johnson’s medical expenses. Johnson was diagnosed with colon cancer of the liver, he said. Doctors were able to remove the tumor in his colon but were unable to remove the cancer that had spread to his liver, Johnson explained, so he as been undergoing bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments for several months.

Recently, Johnson got some good news from his doctors. Initially they expected the treatments to shrink the tumor by 25 percent, but Johnson’s last CAT scan showed the tumor has shrunk by 50 percent.

Even though his wife, Jean Johnson wasn’t able to come to the appointment because she was sick, he celebrated the moment with his daughter, Shana Tucker.

“Me and Shana and thedoctor were bouncing off the walls,” he said.

“We kept from jumping up and down and screaming until we got outside,” Tucker said.

Johnson is a familiar face in the community. Beyond the many years he has helped with theChamber of Commerce and the Decatur Barbecue, he served 16 or 17 years on the city council and three years on the Decatur School Board.

Wilkins worked closely with Royce Johnson on the Chamber of Commerce and in city events and fundraisers. She said she is inspired by his eagerness to help others.

Even though Johnson is still able to work, health insurance policies won’t cover everything and medical bills add up. All the proceeds from the benefit will go towards Johnson’s medical bills.

The event will be held at the Decatur Northside Elementary School and will begin with a chili supper at 5 p.m., followed by a dessert auction and live auction at 7 p.m.

The dessert auction will feature pies from the Wooden Spoon in Gentry, the Gallery Cafe in Decatur and the Main Street Cafe in Gravette, as well as many other treats from local bakers.

Wilkins said she has already received a longlist of items for the live auction, including a weekend for four at the Beaver Lake Log Cabins - complete with spa treatments and evening meals at The Horizon Restaurant - a full day of bulldozing, jewelry, two family passes to the Wild Wilderness Safari, a coffee maker, quilt, gas grill, gift certificates to a number of local restaurants and many other items.

“I appreciate it,” Johnson said, not only of the benefit but of the support he’s received from the community, “I knew I had a lot of friends in Decatur but you really learn to appreciate them when something like this happens.”

Donations of desserts and other new items are welcomed. For more information, call the Decatur City Hall at 752-3912.

Community, Pages 6 on 03/03/2010