NEWPORT-Members of Centerview Free Will Baptist Church are planning a benefit to raise money for a well-known Newport mother and grandmother, Tammy Hembree, a cancer patient.

Hembree, 42, was diagnosed in May of 2008 with gleoplastoma, a form of brain cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor but was given little hope of recovery.

Doctors informed the family that the cancer was very aggressive and that the surgery would leave Hembree in need of rehabilitation. Her initial prognosis was three to six months.

Hembree shocked both doctors and family when she awoke from the surgery able to talk and eat and even to ask to take a shower. Within a week, she had returned home and was doing well.

Fifteen months have now passed and Hembree has returned to work, operating a local fitness center.

However, Hembree was dropped from Tenn Care. She continues to undergo an MRI every six months as part of the monitoring process for her health, having the last procedure in August, when she received a good report. Each MRI costs $2300.

In the meantime she has applied for other types of insurance but continues to be turned down.

Centerview Free Will Baptist Church will hold a benefit on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. to raise money to help eliminate the Hembree family's financial burden.

They will serve lunch beginning at 11 a.m. The cost will be $6 per plate. Gospel singing will be provided, and there will be cakewalks. An auction starting at 6 p.m. will offer such items as a microwave, sofa and loveseat, jewelry, wreaths, gift baskets, tickets to local attractions in Pigeon Forge, Titans memorabilia, Bristol Raceway tickets, and other items.

Hembree is married to Chuck Hembree. They have two sons Billy (wife Cinna) and Chucky and two grandchildren Tucker and Jesslyn.

For more information about the benefit, contact Phyllis Crum, 1250 Piney Mountain Road, Newport (423) 623-2586 (home), (423) 625-6230 (work), (865) 322-0949 (cell), or (423) 608-4122.

For anyone wishing to make a financial contribution, an account has been set up at National Bank of Tennessee.