OCEAN CITY -- The Crabcake Factory USA, which turns 16 years old on April 15, will host a  benefit for Robert Hedrick, a longtime Ocean City resident who is battling cancer.

The event’s proceeds will help his family through the exorbitant financial and emotional burdens that this disease has bestowed upon them. Bob and his wife Linda, owner of Hedrick Public Accounting, have been married 11 years and reside in Caine Woods. Bob fought Leukemia almost 20 years ago and thought he had cancer beat. About a month ago, however, he began complaining of shortness of breath and went in for what he thought was a routine checkup. He was informed that he had Stage 4 inoperable lung cancer and he was given three to six months to live.

The Hedricks have not quit using all of their savings to purchase the drugs that the insurance company will not issue to terminal patients.

“The thing that gets me is what is the point of having these drugs if the sick people can’t use them? Cancer drugs are for cancer patients I always thought,” Crabcake Factory USA owner Johnny Brooks said.

Brooks has started a Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/ocmdcares) and has organized a raffle which will feature two round-trip tickets anywhere in the USA on USAirways and a chance to win crabcakes for a year delivered to your house every month. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased up till the day of the event at 5 p.m. on April 20.

Bob last month returned to the oncologist to see if the chemotherapy was working.

“Well we have some good news and some bad news” posted Linda Hedrick on the “Help for a Neighbor” page, “The mass in the right lung is shrinking, however the cancer has spread to his bones which will require some new medicine to control.”

More information on the event details is available by calling 410-250-4900.

“Thanks to everyone for keeping Bob and the family in your prayers,” said Linda. “I hope I am not asking too much of everyone but this is the only hope we have, he is my world and has touched everyone that has known him.”