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Staff and customers support owners of North Fort Myers bar after dual cancer diagnosis

Obie and Heather Herrera
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NORTH FORT MYERS — On weekdays at Sheas West, you can find some of the bar's regulars, like Kimmie Asher.

"It's like family," she said.

Asher says the bar owners, Heather and Obie Herrera, have supported her in the past.

"They helped when I lost my job after 19 years," Asher said.

So, when the owners, a married couple were recently diagnosed with cancer, returning the favor was something she and the rest of the community wanted to do.

Watch Fox 4's Allie Kaiser meet with the couple battling cancer together:

Staff and customers support owners of North Fort Myers bar after dual cancer diagnosis

The Herreras were both diagnosed with cancer in the same week last month.

"It was shocking, but we've kept a positive attitude," Obie said.

Customer laughing
A regular at Sheas West bursts out in laughter after joking with Obie Herrera.

That positivity has rubbed off on their customers and staff.

Customers chatting at the bar
Sheas West regulars talk and sip on cold drinks on Wednesday afternoon.

"We just wanted to help them back in return," said Lisa Kraft, manager of Shea's West Pub and Bar.

The community formed in this bar started raising money for the Herrera's to help pay for the surgeries and radiation.

Drawings of the Herrera's
These drawings of the couple hang inside of Sheas West and serve as a reminder of their loving relationship.

"We've always tried to help other people and to be on the other end of it is a little overwhelming," Obie said.

But they're going through it together and with the people in their bar.

The staff started a GoFundMe and a special event will be held at the bar on Halloween to raise money for the couple.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Austin Schargorodski