When cancer strikes, the battle against it in many instances becomes a family affair.

So it it has been for Cynthia "Cindy" Silva and Greg Silva, Brookings residents and employees at South Dakota State University: She is a senior agricultural research technician ; he is a custodial services supervisor. The couple have three children and two grandchildren.

Cindy has been battling cancer for about the past 15 years. About eight years ago, after seven years of breast and bone cancer, she sought treatment at a facility in Tulsa, Okla. At present, she also has cancer in her liver and lungs, although after one treatment she is starting to show some remission.

She is now scheduled for six more new treatments of chemotherapy at three-week intervals; that entails the added expenses of trips to and from Tulsa for her and Greg. To help defray those costs, friends have scheduled a fund-raising benefit for the Silvas.

A bake sale, silent auction, rummage and sloppy joe luncheon is being held at the Brookings Activity Center (Elks Lodge), 320 Fifth Ave. in Brookings on Saturday (Aug. 2) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Donations for the fundraiser may be dropped off at the activity center until 8 p.m. today (Friday, Aug. 1). Monetary donations are welcome to help the Silvas with their travel expenses.