Pints, Polka and sauerkraut were in the air at the Whistle Stop Ale House Friday night, as locals raised $5,500 for a barman fighting Leukemia.

“It’s just one of those great spots in life… where everyone comes together,” said Melinda Lawrence who owns Whistle Stop with her husband Jeff Lawrence.

The restaurant hosted a silent auction alongside its annual Oktoberfest celebration to help support Fran Leonard, 52, who has been battling cancer since May 2009.

Waiters wore Bavarian-styled costumes, eager dancers overcrowded the live polka band, and beer-boiled sausages topped the specials menu.

Working at the Whistle stop for about 13 years, Leonard grew close to regular customers.

“We had a lot of people donating money that weren’t trying to get anything out of the auction,” Lawrence said.

Though his cancer went into remission this October, he’s still unable to work. He didn’t have health insurance, so the bills started stacking.

“The daily living is what we’re really trying to help with,” Lawrence said.

Some community help has even been hands on.

“A lot of these people have brought him food, mowed his lawn and done his laundry,” she said.

Though grateful for the support, people’s willingness to help Leonard isn’t a surprise, she said. “Everybody who knows Fran, knows what a great person he is.”

The Whistle Stop plans to have four kegs on tap dedicated to Leonard through October. He’ll receive all the proceeds from the $8 pints.

The ale house is also considering another fundraiser at the end of the year.

“We had a lot of people donating money that weren’t trying to get anything out of the auction,” Lawrence said.