A fundraiser to help offset medical costs for Patricia Stoddard, of Madison, is planned for Sunday, March 5, at Alice’s Restaurant on North Avenue in Skowhegan.

The event starts at 3 p.m.

Patricia Stoddard

“My mom (Patty) has been fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which unfortunately is a very expensive battle,” said Stoddard’s son, Chris Bushey, in a Facebook invitation. “We would like to raise enough money so that she need not worry about expenses and focus on her health instead.”

People are invited to attend a spaghetti supper at $8 a plate at the restaurant; no advance ticket purchase is required.

Stoddard had been working as a truck driver for many years when she was diagnosed late last fall. She started having abdominal pain in October, which led to tests determining she had gallstones. She eventually had her gallbladder removed, but not before doctors found an inflamed pancreas, which was later found to be cancerous.

Because she had started a new job recently, she was not covered by health insurance. Four hospital stays resulted in medical bills in excess of $100,000.

A GoFundMe campaign also has been started to help with medical bills.