Friends, neighbors, and family members gathered at Hackamore Brewing Thursday night to celebrate Lt. Col. Jacob Helgestad. His name was on everyone’s lips, and for good reason—though he didn’t see it that way.

Last summer, a vacation with his wife turned into a life-changing event for Helgestad. “End of June, my wife and I did a 10-mile hike around a mountain in Banff, Canada. Two weeks later, I was in the hospital diagnosed with cancer,” he said. “You never know what’s coming. My wife and I have learned to not take anything for granted and to cherish every day with our loved ones.”

The diagnosis shocked those who know him best.

“Jake is a hero. My kids joined the Army National Guard because of his influence,” said Krystal Erickson, a friend and neighbor. “He fought for our country, and now, with his cancer diagnosis, it’s our turn to fight for him.”

Chris Reed, who helped organize the fundraiser at Hackamore, spoke highly of Helgestad. “He’s a father, husband, neighbor, and friend of the highest caliber. He used to come here with his wife and eat pizza, but he was losing weight because of the cancer. So I made ‘eat pizza, f–k cancer’ hats and started selling them online. The military community noticed and saw a need.”

Helgestad, however, was reluctant to be the center of attention.