MILLERS FALLS — Continuing to build on a groundswell of support for Greenfield Fire Capt. John Whitney and his family following a brain cancer diagnosis, Element Brewing Co. is looking to raise money and awareness through a “Thankful Thursday” fundraising event on Thursday, July 10.

The fundraiser will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at the 16 Bridge St. brewery, with 20% of all money spent at the bar and outside donations going to Whitney and his family. For the first time, this Thankful Thursday will also feature live music by Ask Wanda. The band will start performing at 6 p.m.

Element Brewing Co. co-owner Ben Anhalt, who is one of Whitney’s close friends, said that although the brewery is fairly small, he hopes to make a positive financial impact for the family. The effort is also intended to raise awareness about Whitney’s diagnosis and a GoFundMe that is accepting donations.

“We also think it’s a good platform to get the word out and let people know what the community needs,” Anhalt said about Thursday’s event. “I just wanted to keep the momentum going with the GoFundMe. … I just want to try to not let it fizzle out.”

Whitney and his wife, Emily, went to the emergency room in mid-June after he had been suffering from headaches and other symptoms. After a CAT scan revealed a mass on Whitney’s brain, he was transferred to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. There, he underwent an MRI that revealed the mass was a large tumor.

To show support for Whitney after his diagnosis, first responders from across Franklin County lined Congress Street in Greenfield on June 25 to welcome him home from the hospital.

Subsequently, a GoFundMe was created on June 28 that has amassed $29,566 as of Monday afternoon. Between the June 25 show of support from local first responders and the GoFundMe, Anhalt said Thursday’s event is an opportunity to keep the support going for his friend, who is a beloved community member and longtime firefighter.

The brewery has done Thankful Thursday fundraisers in the past, but this time, Anhalt said it’s personal to him, having known Whitney, his wife and his sons for nearly two decades. Anhalt is looking at this fundraiser “holistically,” as this not only supports Whitney and his medical treatment, but also his family.

“They already know how much the community supports them and is behind them,” Anhalt said, “but hopefully some good feelings of love [will be] going their way, so they can see that their people actually are coming together and actually really care about them.”

The GoFundMe can be found at gofundme.com/f/all-in-for-86-whitney-family-support.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.