A fundraising dinner and silent auction is May 17 for Chad Senas, father of former and current Mililani High School star athletes who is battling a rare bone cancer.

The fundraiser, which includes a silent auction, is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mililani High School cafeteria, with entertainment provided by Kalani Koa.

Dinner tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. For tickets and information, contact Gaile Nitta at 542-0850.

Senas' children are Ciera (now at Hawai'i Pacific University), Chasity (Chaminade), Chanelle (Eastern Arizona) and Courtney, a two-time All-State softball player. He also has a son, Chad, a fifth grader at Mililani Uka.

Senas was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone, 3 1/2 years ago. After consultation with oncologists and orthopedic surgeons in Hawai'i and on the Mainland, it was decided that Senas' only hope of survival was to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for treatment. After meeting with doctors there, the family was told that Senas' only chance of survival was to undergo a hemipelvectomy, or high level pelvic amputation. Senas underwent about 22 hours of surgery.

However, about a year later, he required more surgery and that was followed by radiation, chemotherapy and more surgery. Senas hopes to go to the City of Hope Cancer Institute in Los Angeles, where advanced medical technologies are available.