Friends and loved ones are coming together to help a local woman battling breast cancer and her husband who is a longtime Port Arthur Police officer.

Southeast Texas Circle of Hope is heading up the Carol and Mike Hebert Benefit, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Neches River Wheelhouse, 720 Lee Ave., in Port Neches.

Carol Hebert and husband PAPD Officer Mike Hebert have been married since 1992 and have three children, two of whom are in college and one is in high school. Carol was diagnosed with cancer in both breasts with a possibility that the cancer spread to her lymph nodes. She began treatment at MD Anderson in August.

PAPD Lt. Jon Carona, who has worked with Mike Hebert for years, knows of Hebert’s work to help others and called Emmett Hollier with SETX Circle of Hope regarding the benefit.

“I’ve worked with Mike for almost 27 years and I know he has sacrificed many, many personal hours on the Blue Santa program and other programs that have positively affected many children in the Port Arthur and Mid-County area,” Carona said. “Carol supported him through all those extra hours he put in on his own time, especially with Blue Santa, to make it work. Every year with Mike’s leadership we are able to give gifts to over 200 kids and make their Christmas a good one.”

Carona called Mike Hebert one of the most giving people he’s ever been around.

“We get to pay it forward to him and his family to ease their minds a bit,” he said. “We want to show them the community is praying for them and supporting them.”

Hollier said all proceeds from the benefit will go to the Hebert’s to help with medical costs as well as costs to travel to Houston for treatments.

He explained that in addition to being a big part of the Blue Santa program Hebert has also used his own money to bring children to a Houston Astros game and even a Dallas Cowboys game.

The upcoming benefit will also be a chance for Mike and Carol Hebert to see the outpouring of love from the community as well as raise funds.

“Our motto is that if we can take that disease off the patient’s mind for 30 minutes it’s worth all the work we put into it,” Hollier said of the non-profit organization.

Members of Circle of Hope are all volunteers with their own jobs and not paid.

“We are blessed, it could be us tomorrow. We are blessed today so we need to help someone who needs help,” he said.

The upcoming benefit will include a silent auction, live auction, barbecue lunches, live music, 50/50 split the pot, chicken drop, door prizes, dunking booth, face painting, games for kids, motorcycle/car fun run, washerboard tournament and more.

Donations may be made to Neches Federal Credit Union, Account No. 59432-1, write in memo: Carol and Mike Hebert Benefit. All locations in southeast Texas or call 722-1174.

For more information, call 550-7135.