Patrons who would like to support one of their own can attend a benefit dinner next month in Palmerton.

A benefit dinner will be held at Linda's Country Gap Inne, Palmerton, at 2 p.m. Nov. 7. The meal will include spaghetti and a salad.The benefit is for Shirley Smale of Kresgeville, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, also known as small cell carcinoma.Diagnosed in June, Smale, 61, is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment in Philadelphia.Linda Stokes, owner of Linda's Country Gap Inne, said the benefit will be held in an effort to help offset some of Smale's medical and travel expenses."My heart is going out to her," Stokes said. "She's very tired."Stokes said anyone who would like to make donations may drop them off at the restaurant.While a kind gesture on her behalf, this isn't the first benefit dinner Stokes has hosted.In April, she held a chicken bake at the restaurant, where proceeds raised were donated to a local cancer society or person afflicted by the disease and in need of medical assistance.And, in years past, Stokes has held a variety of benefit dinners as well.