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A smile creased the lips of Takoma Park resident Darhyl Lyons Saturday night as his hands danced over the taut surface of his trusty drum and he surveyed the chorus of residents, friends and neighbors who had come out to support him.

As an enthusiastic drum instructor at the Contradiction Dance Studio and well-known staff and board member at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Co-Op, Lyons is accustomed to helping his community, but when doctors at Holy Cross Hospital discovered a cancerous tumor in his lung last July, his friends and neighbors were quick to help him. Refusing to stand idly by as Lyons faced the news of a second tumor discovered in his brain only a week after the first, a group of local businesses and Lyons' friends organized a fundraiser to help pay for his escalating medical bills.

"I go to the Co-Op every day, and I always see Darhyl," said Akisha Townsend as she enjoyed the musical performances and food donated by local restaurants in the studio. "He's always a friendly personality and a great person to know, so I decided I was going to do everything I could to get down here tonight."

Hosted by Kelly Mayfield, director of the studio, and organized by Jennifer Finney, owner of nearby Tranquil Soul boutique, the fundraiser attracted 60 persons and featured a fashion show of the boutique's new lineup, along with musicians and dance performances by Contradiction Dance students. By the time Lyons arrived around 9 p.m., the sight of the crowd was almost too much.

"If I drop a tear at any moment, it's a manly tear," Lyons joked as he thanked the residents and local businesses lining the walls. "Takoma's a beautiful community, but you almost just don't know all the people, so when I walked up today and saw all these people who care about me, I was speechless."

Lyons had successful brain surgery to remove the first tumor in early August and is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the tumor in his lung before scheduling a second operation, probably some time after December. Often weak from the intense therapy sessions and still recovering from initial surgery, Lyons had been unable to work and was falling short on medical bills until the event.

"I would basically just get my treatment and then go home because I was so tired," he said. "I was really out of the loop, and the next thing I know I get a call [about the event]. It's all love, and it's a beautiful thing."

While Lyons was amazed by the turnout, many of his friends were far from surprised by the level of support and generosity at the event. Katy Gaughan first met Lyons when he held his first drum circle in 2008, and she was more than happy to lend a hand Saturday night.

"He's got a great energy, and it's just so amazing how he was able to use drumming to help Takoma; there's not many things that people can do where you can sit down together with no experience and play," she said. "What you're seeing here, this community support is a reflection of all his work for Takoma."

The fundraiser's Web site will remain active through the end of the year, and the event itself generated more than $7,000, all of which will go directly toward paying for Lyons' hospital bills, according to Mayfield.

"We just put a big dent in what he's looking at, and hopefully the remainder will be more manageable now," she said.

The fund for Darhyl Lyons'

treatment will remain open through the end of the year. Those interested in donating are encouraged to visit the event's Web site: www.funds4darhyl.eventbrite.com.