ROCHELLE — As a full time oncology nurse, Mary Beth Papke works with patients undergoing various stages of cancer, providing care in their time of need. Now Papke is herself a patient, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

A fundraiser for Papke will be held on Friday, March 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lost Mine Lounge in the Four Seasons Bowling Alley in Sycamore. The event will include a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, karaoke, food, and a head-shaving party.

Family, friends, and coworkers are rallying around the Rochelle resident, providing the encouragement and assistance needed when she will be off work following surgery and during chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments.

Organizers say her coworkers want to encourage and help during this time, so they came up with the idea of having a head-shaving party and fundraiser to benefit Papke.

Along with her nursing position at Kish Health Cancer Center, Papke still serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves for the past 33 years and drills with EMF Great Lakes as a Nurse Corps Officer.

“Please come have a great evening with us and help us take care of some of the financial burden off this special lady,” the cancer center staff noted on the fundraiser’s flyer.

There are many items available for the silent auction such as a tote bag, various décor, baskets, hotel overnight, massage, and family passes for the YMCA.

The Four Seasons Bowling Alley is located at 1745 DeKalb Ave. (Route 23), Sycamore.