MOSES LAKE — Surrounded by friends, family, coworkers, students' parents and community members, Moses Lake teacher Joy Fry spent Thursday evening celebrating something bigger than a hamburger.

Rock Top Burgers & Brew hosted a "Joy Celebration" on Oct. 15, raising money for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation while honoring Fry, a Garden Heights Elementary fourth-grade teacher who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Working alongside restaurant staff, Fry helped create a special burger for the month of October, with proceeds benefiting the local nonprofit that has supported her throughout her cancer journey.

"I feel so blessed," Fry said, looking out at the crowd that filled the restaurant.

Breast cancer has touched Fry's family for generations. Her mother died from breast cancer at age 34, and her sister was diagnosed with cancer at 23. Because of that history, Fry said she has long been proactive about screenings and working with her doctors.

"It's been a surprise," she said of her own diagnosis. "We kept it to ourselves for a while, and then we let everybody know, and they have surrounded us with love."

That support was on full display Thursday evening.

 A burger with a purpose

The featured burger, created by Fry, is called the BC&J Burger, a name that references both its ingredients and her cancer journey.

"My last name's Fry, so I made sure it had fry sauce," she said.

The burger includes bacon, cheddar and candied jalapeños made in-house. The name stands for bacon, cheddar and jalapeños, but also "Breast Cancer and Joy."

Fry said she hopes to raise at least $1,000 for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation.

"The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation has been a godsend," she said. "They have been so amazing. They are so involved in our community."

Rock Top General Manager Andrea Cannon said the restaurant launched its annual breast cancer awareness fundraiser five years ago after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Each October, the restaurant partners with a local cancer patient to create a featured burger. For every specialty burger sold during the month, $1 is donated to the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation, Cannon said. A portion of beverage sales are also donated, and this year one of the participating breweries agreed to match donations generated through beer sales.

"It's exciting to watch," Cannon said. "Especially how everybody is so uplifting to Joy tonight."

Cannon said Fry's burger has already proven popular with customers.

"It's one that everybody seems to really like," Cannon said. "And just to help support her, every dollar counts."

Finding support during treatment

Fry completed chemotherapy in September and was scheduled to undergo surgery Oct. 19. Throughout her treatment, she said, the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation has provided both practical assistance and emotional support.

The Moses Lake-based nonprofit offers a range of services for cancer patients and their families, including support groups, gas vouchers, transportation assistance, grocery support, ready-to-eat meals, yoga classes, educational materials and recovery items such as wigs, scarves, prosthetics and mastectomy pillows.

Fry said she first learned more about the foundation through Monica McAtee, a former coworker and current board member.

When she was preparing to begin chemotherapy, Fry made a decision that helped her feel more in control of the process. Rather than waiting for treatment to cause hair loss, she chose to cut her hair proactively and asked if she could do it at the foundation's office.

"They showed me the wigs, but I'm not a wig person," Fry said. "I wanted my friends to be there and I didn't want my hair to fall out, so I wanted to cut it myself and be proactive."

The foundation opened its doors for what Fry described as a unique and uplifting experience.

"My friends and I went there, and we just laughed," she said. "It was such a neutral place for me."

McAtee accompanied Fry during her first visit to the foundation and later watched her take that same determined approach to the challenges that followed.

"She chose to shave her head immediately because she was in charge, and she wasn't going to let cancer take over," McAtee said. "She was always in charge of it."

Beyond emotional support, Fry said the organization has helped with travel expenses, provided nutritional support when chemotherapy affected her appetite and supplied comfort items to help prepare for recovery after surgery.

"Sometimes when you have chemotherapy, your appetite diminishes and nothing sounds good, but you need some nourishment," Fry said.

She credited the foundation with providing bone broth, food assistance and a large body pillow designed to provide support during recovery.

"They're always supportive," Fry said. "They provide food and bone broth and verbal support. They are an amazing group."

McAtee said the foundation seeks to support patients through every stage of treatment by addressing both practical and emotional needs.

"We help them with everything from gas cards to meals to support groups," she said. "We've got yoga classes for them. We do it all at the Cancer Foundation. Use us because we're here for patients."

For Fry, the assistance has gone beyond physical resources.

Whether talking with staff members, attending support groups or simply stopping by the office, she said the foundation has provided a sense of community during one of the most difficult periods of her life.

"The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation has been a godsend," Fry said. "They have been so amazing. They are so involved in our community."

 A school community comes together

Fry's colleagues at Garden Heights Elementary have also rallied around her.

Lunchroom staff wore matching pink shirts Thursday and joined the celebration. Together they purchased care packages, blankets, slippers and other gifts to support Fry during treatment and recovery.

"When we knew that she had cancer, we felt a lot of sympathy for her," said Maria Osorio, a coworker. "We wanted to give her emotional support."

Lily Barahona described Fry as someone who consistently stays positive, even during difficult circumstances.

"She's a very brave woman," Barahona said. "I love that she's always positive."

The support extends beyond staff members.

Olivia Jennings, a school employee and parent whose daughter was in Fry's class last year, described her as an exceptional teacher.

"She's phenomenally an amazing person," Jennings said. "She's strong and she's always got a smile on her face."

Jennings said her daughter continues to ask about Fry and how her recovery is progressing.

As Fry prepares for the next stage of treatment, those closest to her said she continues to inspire those around her.

"Thank you for being such an inspiration," McAtee said. "And showing us what being a baddie is all about."

For Fry, the evening was another reminder she is not facing cancer alone.

From restaurant employees and foundation volunteers to coworkers, students and families, dozens of people gathered Thursday to deliver a simple message of support. As the crowd filled Rock Top Burgers & Brew, Fry smiled and reflected on the community surrounding her.

"They have surrounded us with love," she said.

 How to get help

The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation provides support for local cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. Services include transportation assistance, gas vouchers, support groups, Meals to Heal, grocery assistance, yoga classes, educational resources and comfort and recovery items.

The foundation is located at 1022 S. Pioneer Way, Suite A, in Moses Lake and can be reached at 509-764-4644. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Friday visits available by appointment.

Cancer patients and their families can learn more or register for services at columbiabasincancerfoundation.org. The foundation says staff members typically respond to support requests within 24 hours during regular business days.

    Rock Top Burgers & Brew was packed Thursday night with people bustling through the door to support Joy Fry, a Garden Heights Elementary School fourth-grade teacher who is battling breast cancer. Staff and guests were decked in pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.
  

    Joy Fry smiles at Rock Top Burgers & Brew Thursday. She said she is hoping to raise around $1,000 for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation with help from Rock Top and her custom burger.
  

    Throughout the rest of October, Rock Top Bar & Grill will be serving the BC&J, a burger customized by Joy Fry. The burger has fry sauce, bacon, cheddar and candied jalapeños. The namesake references both the ingredients – bacon, cheddar and jalapeños but also “Breast Cancer and Joy.”
  

    The Garden Heights community has been rallying around Joy Fry as she battles breast cancer. Lunch ladies Maria Osoria, Lily Barahona and Magda Hernandez dressed up for Fry’s last day in school before her surgery Monday.