For Cliff Akins of King City, Mo., the hardest part of having cancer isn’t the cancer itself.

The hardest part is finding a way to pay for his chemotherapy, which Medicare won’t fund. Fortunately for him, his family is determined to find a way to pay for the treatment he needs.

“We’re not going to let him go without it,” Elizabeth Ballard, one of Mr. Akins’ daughters, said.

After her father’s diagnosis with bladder cancer last month and Medicare’s refusal to pay for his chemotherapy, his family started the Cliff Akins Cancer Fund at Nodaway Valley Bank. The bank has branches in St. Joseph, Maryville, Savannah and Mound City, and all will accept donations to the fund.

The family also is accepting donations for a garage sale and raffle scheduled for May 31 and June 1. Items for the garage sale can be dropped off at 2206 Valley Brook Lane in St. Joseph, and any business willing to make a raffle donation can contact Ms. Ballard at 324-0322 or her sister, Theresa Larabee, at 390-8974.

Her father had his first round of chemotherapy Monday, Ms. Ballard said, and he will need at least five more. The 68-year-old retired carpet-layer — described by his family as someone who always worked hard and never accepted donations — had enough savings to pay for only one treatment.

“You know he’s scared if he agreed to all this,” Ms. Ballard said. “He knows it’s a life-or-death situation.”

Erin Wisdom can be reached at ewisdom@npgco.com.