He is just 50 years old, but Clinton native Randy Knowles is in a fight for his life. Knowles is battling stage 4 cancer and his family and friends are rallying around him to help with the financial burdens, putting on a benefit dinner and auction that will be held on Aug. 22 at the Clinton Family Worship Center, located at 103 Raiford St. in Clinton.

“We are going to be selling chicken and pastry plates and having three auctions that day,” said close friend Tim Dunn. “We are going to have a big time in honor of a great guy.”

Knowles was first diagnosed with esophageal cancer five years ago, and had surgery in 2004. A year later, he was told he was cancer free.

However, according to his son, Johnathan, the cancer returned in 2006.

“At first they found these tiny little spots around his abdomen,” he said. “And over the years, they just kept growing.”

Although doctors have told the father of four that his diagnoses was bleak, Knowles keeps fighting the disease in hopes of beating the odds.

“He goes to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma every two weeks,” said Johnathan. “Before it was six to eight chemotherapy treatments every 21 days, but now it is a 48-hour treatment every 14 days. As the cancer gets more aggressive, the treatments have to get more aggressive too. He has his good days and bad days, like everyone else, but for the most part, it has been very tough on him.”

Knowles was forced to take disability from his profession (truck driver) as the disease become more aggressive.

“He needed to keep taking more time off,” said Johnathan, “so he really couldn’t keep working.”

With the frequent trips to Oklahoma, hotel stays, flights and food, not to mention the monthly utility bills that continually come in, a benefit seemed like the perfect way to help a friend in need.

“He is a great guy,” said Dunn. “He would do anything to help you out. This thing jumped on him and won’t stop. He has been dealing with it for years now, and I just felt like we needed to do something to help him out in his time of need. Somebody has got to help him, to just leave him there and not do anything is not the way the good Lord meant it. We have to help each other.”

“Daddy is doing it all alone,” Johnathan said. “He does have personal insurance that he still has to pay for and that costs pretty good ... but he still has his own bills, medications, groceries ... It has been hard on him.”

It should be noted that the insurance nor disability pays for Knowles’ flights or hotel stays while in Oklahoma every two weeks.

When asked how it has been on the family, which includes four grandchildren, Johnathan says, “It has been trying for all of us ... We are a close family — we have always been close. It is just really hard to see your dad going through something like this.”

The family is hoping that the upcoming benefit will take away some of the financial strain Knowles is under.

“He will be out there,” said Johnathan. “We just appreciated everyone who is involved with this and everyone can be assured that every dollar is going to help him with his bills.”

And both Dunn and Knowles hopes that the community gets involved with their plight.

“Any donation, anything that people can donate for our auction would be absolutely great,” said Dunn. “Even if you come out and buy a plate it is helping him out.”

Johnathan agrees.

“If anyone wants to come out and volunteer, that would be great too,” he said. “We are trying to get as many people as we can. There will be a lot of cooking that day, and we are going to need help with that and serving. But if it is nothing more than just coming out and getting a plate, that will be $6 that he didn’t have before. Everything and anything will help, even if it is just your prayers.”

Tickets are currently being sold at Mike’s Hunting Shop and from family members. For more information on how to donate, volunteer or send messages call Dunn at 337-3018.

The Aug. 22 benefit will begin at 11 a.m. and run until food is sold out; the auction will be held from 2-4 p.m.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.