By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer

UNION - It's hard to fathom, but there can be good news about a 7-year-old cancer patient.

Austin Beach's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is curable. And lots of people care about him and his family.

The bad news is complicated medical procedures and costly drugs are necessary for Austin's treatment. Medical insurance doesn't cover all the bills. So those friends are stepping in with a benefit Saturday to help raise money. .

"It's just awesome," said Kevin Beach, Austin's father, general manager at Perfection Landscaping and Design in Union. "The guys at work have really stepped up for us and Austin. We've been through a lot as a family, but something like this really helps us out."

A daylong benefit is planned 3 p.m. to midnight at the Florence Speedway on U.S. 42 south of Union. Admission is $5 a person and events and activities include live music, cornhole tournament, raffle and silent auction, rides around the track in a race car, a mechanical bull and games for kids.

Food and drinks will also be served and door prizes will be awarded.

Jim Perkins, who works with Beach in the landscape business, organized the benefit as well as an earlier fund-raiser at the speedway.

"Jerry King, who owns the speedway, has been great," Perkins said. "Last weekend he let us pass the helmet around the stands and we collected about $2,000.

"People just want to help the family out," he said. "My father died from cancer about four years ago, and I just felt compelled to do whatever I could to help Austin. The family needs the money, and they need it pretty bad, so we are doing the best we can."

Austin, who lives with his father and mother, Laura, in Crittenden, was diagnosed in June. The Beaches are faced with out-of-pocket prescription costs of about $10,000 a year. Austin's medical bills will likely be even higher.

Beach said besides being unable to play sports, Austin gets along fine with his ailment, his father said.

"He tires out easily, and he's bald from the (chemotherapy) treatments," Beach said. "There for awhile he was in the hospital and couldn't eat or drink anything for three weeks.

"That was tough," Beach said. "Try telling a 7-year-old he can't have something. It's not easy."

For more information call 859-743-6919. The rainout date is Sept. 10 at the speedway.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com