MONTEZUMA #- When Linda Cardinale Cartner and her husband, Dave, of Auburn, were in the restaurant business they were always more than glad to do what they could to help out others in need, hosting fundraisers and other charitable events.

“He'd dress up like Santa every year at Christmas,” Linda said. “And we'd get presents and have all the kids get together and give out presents, and we'd have benefits and things like that all the time.”

Saturday afternoon, the couple found themselves on the other side of things at the VFW in Montezuma, were friends, family and co-workers came together to host an afternoon chicken barbecue to help offset medical expenses the family is facing as Linda battles cancer.

“All my union brothers from Hammond & Irving approached us about this,” Dave said. “They are doing all the chicken and friends are inside here doing all the other cooking. People have been very generous. It is nice to see this kind of support.”

Friends like Marlene Falsey were quick to step up and lend their support, helping organize the afternoon's festivities.

“We've been friends for more than 25 years,” Falsey said. “A bunch of us got together and are pitching in to cook food and help however we can.”

Falsey and other not only helped to get food, but also organized several raffles and music by DJ Douglas Yankton.

“We just want to be able to help however we can,” Falsey said. “Our only goal here is raise as much as we can to help with the medical expenses.”

Linda and Dave, who are raising their two granddaughters, both of whom are autistic, Brianna, 9, and Leann, 10, are no strangers to the battle with cancer.

“She had lung cancer,” Dave said. “And then that went into remission, but now it is back and she is going through treatments, chemo and radiation. Her bones are a little brittle from all the radiation, but she is still fighting.”

Linda said that she has her good days and her bad, and that while she wasn't feeling well Saturday afternoon, she still wanted to get out to the benefit.

“This is nice,” she said. “It's nice to see everyone and it is really nice that everyone is doing this for us.”

Longtime friends like Miki Dorsey and Joann Covich, of Auburn, were among those that made the trip put to Montezuma to spend the afternoon.

“We've known them for years,” Covich said. “We work at Casey Park and have worked with their granddaughters since kindergarten. They have always been wonderful and supportive and we are just happy to be able to show our support for the family right now.”

A support that is very toughing to a family that is more used to giving than receiving.

“After all the years with the restaurants we did what we could to give back,” Linda said. “Now we are on the other side, getting something back. It takes a little getting used to, but it is very nice to see how supportive everyone is.”