STARKVILLE — On April 28, Bryan Spencer was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, which had spread to his liver in seven spots.
After conversations with doctors and family members, Spencer, a food representative with Performance Food Group, called longtime customer and friend Ty Thames to tell him the news.
“I have known Ty for probably … 16 or 17 years, maybe longer than that. And he’s been my customer for a long, long time, and we’ve gotten to be good friends over the years. And we’ve gotten to be best friends,” Spencer said. “ … I remember the day I called Ty, and he was turkey hunting when I had to tell him, and there was just dead silence on the other end of the phone.”
Thames, chef and owner of Restaurant Tyler, did not know how to respond at that moment, but he started brainstorming ways to help his friend during his fight against cancer.
Meanwhile, Spencer and his doctors began to put together a treatment plan with doctors at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, which included multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries.
After a few months, the medical bills, and other costs, started to roll in. While Spencer said insurance covers 80% of his medical expenses, it doesn’t cover everything. A single round of chemotherapy can cost up to $20,000.
Thames knew he could not watch Spencer go through this alone. A few weeks ago, the chef called Spencer and asked if he could help him through food, somehow. With his permission, Thames decided to plan a benefit, Spencer Strong, on his friend’s behalf.
“I thought, ‘What would he do for me if I were in his position?’” Thames said. “And I knew he would do everything he could. I just figured that we would make a celebration out of it and try to raise some money.”
Thames said once he knew what he wanted to do and he had Spencer’s permission, he reached out to his contacts in the food and business world. Within a little over a week, the benefit came together.
The night will include heavy hors d’oeuvres from some of his chef friends, including Chef David Cruz from Delta Supper Club, Chef Cooper Miller from Forklift in Tupelo and Pit Master Barton Dinkins from Two Brothers Smoked Meats. It will also include an open bar, live music, door prizes and a silent auction.
“I think cancer is one of those things that touches everybody and has touched everybody,” Thames said. “When something like that happens, I think everyone can relate to the cause.”
The benefit will be at Restaurant Tyler on Aug. 19 from 6-9 p.m., which Thames referred to as a “wedding reception without the wedding.” Tickets are $75, and all proceeds will go toward Spencer’s fight against cancer.
Thames is encouraging as many as possible to buy tickets, even if they cannot attend the event, to fundraise as much as possible for Spencer.
“I have a lot of friends who know Bryan from out of state … and they’re buying tickets,” Thames said. “They’re not going to go, but they’re buying tickets just because all of the proceeds are going to Bryan.”
Spencer said he will not attend, due to preparation for a major liver surgery in the week following, which will require him to be in Houston for at least two weeks. After the surgery, his treatment will include two more months of chemotherapy, and then another large surgery to remove a foot of his colon.
Despite missing the event, Spencer said he already feels overwhelmed by the support of friends, family, church members and others from the food industry who have come “out of the woodwork” to help him and his family.
“God has done so much and has blessed us in so many ways, with not just Ty, but so many other people,” Spencer said. “I’ve had people just come up to me in church and slip $500 in my pocket or mail me $1,000 that just comes in the mail.”
Spencer expressed his gratitude for everyone who has supported him and his family through his cancer treatments, as he said it has had a tangible effect on his health.
“I would like to say thank you to anybody who has it on their heart to help me and my family through this time, whether it’s financially or not,” Spencer said. “Whether it’s just a prayer for us — I feel the prayers. The Lord is working. The treatments I have been going through have been shrinking the spots on my colon and the spots on my liver. ”
For more information on the benefit, you can visit the Restaurant Tyler Facebook Page.
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