POCATELLO - Nine cancer patients and their spouses will enjoy an elegant dressed-to-the-nines evening on the town Thursday in Pocatello seeing Christmas lights from a limousine, eating out and making memories.

The free event is funded through the Shannon Wilker Foundation, which Shane Wilker started in 2015 after his wife, Shannon, died of breast cancer in 2011.

Shane said a night out was one of the ways he and Shannon would de-stress when she was battling cancer.

“Anything to kind of take your mind off of it for an evening was nice,” he said. “It's one of those things they wouldn't do it on their own because you've got so much going on with expenses and bills ... that's why we want to do it for them.”

The event will also help the patients — referred through the Portneuf Cancer Center — and their spouses make memories together, he said.

“When it's all said and done, that's what you've got left is your memories and your families and the ones that you love,” Shane said.

The patients and their spouses will receive free use of gowns and tuxedos through LaNeige Bridal & Tuxedos, a limousine from Black Knight Limousine, a meal at Puerto Vallarta, hair and makeup by Austin Kade Academy, flowers from Buds & Bloomers, and photos by Tara Tracy Photography.

Also, there will be appearances by Miss Gate City Ayriss Torres and Miss Gate City Outstanding Teen Bella Davis.

Shane, 61, who keeps an open books policy, said the foundation has so far raised about $5,000. The organization, which provides all the funds it receives to patients, has mainly operated in Idaho Falls. But it's looking for a major sponsor to expand more extensively into Pocatello.

Shane says the foundation is just one way for him to try to live up to his wife's example.

“She was so amazing,” Shane said. “...I'm just trying to keep her memory alive and be the kind of person she was.”