By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A Pelham restaurant will be holding a lunch fundraiser for a local veteran on March 9 who has been battling cancer and leukemia for nearly three years.

Texas Roadhouse, which is at 60 Drivers Way off Alabama 119, will be holding the lunch for Pelham native Matthew Blount, who currently is battling leukemia after already defeating cancer twice.

The lunch will include pulled pork, green beans, applesauce, homemade bread and a drink for $10, and will last from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The fundraiser involves dine-in and take-out orders only, not deliveries.

All money raised during the event will go to Blount to help with medical expenses.

“Texas Roadhouse of Pelham has graciously offered to hold a benefit luncheon to raise funds in order to help pay hospital expenses for Matthew and his family,” said Tonya Rodrigue, who helped to organize the event. “If you would simply like to make a donation, Regions Bank has opened an account that anyone can make deposits into. Anything you can do will be humbly and deeply appreciated by the family.”

Tickets to the fundraiser can be purchased at Vulcan Termite Pest Control at 115 Commerce Drive in Pelham, or by emailing Rodrigue at tigercubs46@yahoo.com.

Blount’s father, Barry, previously said his son’s medical treatment can sometimes add up to several thousand dollars per week.

Blount, his wife and their daughter have also made several trips from Birmingham to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In a recent post on his Caringbridge.com journal, Blount said he has been feeling better over the past few weeks, thanked the community for its support and said his faith has helped him to deal with the hardships the disease has brought.

“I am currently clear minded and feeling pretty well with all things considering,” Blount wrote. “I just have an unbelievable support system comprised of family, friends and even people I have never met. Most importantly, I have my faith. It is harder to fall down and look up at all the love trying to pull you up than it is to stay down.

Please continue to pray for (my wife) Melinda and me as we deal with issues that sometimes seem overwhelming,” Blount added. “We couldn’t do anything alone, and thank each of you for whatever part you play, and prayer is a big part of that.”