May 25, 2022, life presented Jim Stowers, of Bend, with a diagnosis of Stage 3 esophageal cancer, with a 20% survival rate of five years or more.

It was his 50th birthday.

“Most people do something big or momentous for a milestone birthday,” he said. “I spent the day wondering if I’d see 51.”

Stowers knew that, at some future date, if he were to survive, he wanted to stage a cancer benefit to give back in some way.

“I kind of made a deal with myself that if I’m lucky enough to pull through this, then I’m going to figure out a way to do something to try to help,” he said. “It’s very underfunded, understudied.”

Payback time comes Saturday afternoon with Slappy Hour: A Benefit for Those Affected by Cancer, which Stowers has organized in partnership with the Bend skate nonprofit Board House Society.…