by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 10/97) - This Friday night a special benefit concert and auction has been planned to help one Yellowknife family face a long bout with cancer.

Penny Philpotts, who taught at William McDonald school, was recently diagnosed with fourth-stage Hodgkins disease in Penticton, B.C., where the couple have been settling in for the past few months.

"She's extremely ill. Neither are employed and they can use some help," said Sue Glowach, who's helping to organize a special benefit concert Friday at the Weledeh school gymnasium.

Chris and Penny Philpotts lived in the North for more than 10 years, teaching in the Eastern Arctic as well as in Yellowknife, where Chris served as the vice-principal of Weledeh school.

Dozens of musicians will perform during the benefit, which will include a family dance followed by a pub night and an auction.

Glowach said Penny is currently undergoing chemotherapy in Vancouver, where hotel costs for Chris, who's staying by his wife's side, are quite high.

The couple also have two daughters, Katrina, 6, and Natasha, 10.

All the proceeds from the benefit will go into a special trust for the family.

"Penny has incredibly spirit and strength and if spirit and strength, and if that's any indication she'll pull herself through this. "

Tickets for the benefit are $10 each or $25 per family.