CHAMPAIGN — Friends and family of former Mike 'N Molly's employee Michael Litchford will hold a benefit for his family starting at 6 p.m. Friday at the bar, 105 N. Market St., C.

Mr. Litchford, 38, died Saturday after a brief bout with cancer. He graduated from Champaign Central High School and the University of Illinois, where he majored in archaeology. He was most recently employed at the UI as a buildings and facilities coordinator. Among his survivors are his wife, Ariana, and two young children, Moses and Zoe.

The benefit for the Litchfords will feature music from six area bands, including Dottie and the Rail, Evil Tents, The Chemicals, Cheaper Hits, Lonely Trailer and Take Care, as well as a silent auction from 6 to 9 p.m. Italian-beef sandwiches made by local restaurant Farren's will be served from 6 p.m. until they run out.

Among the items up for bid at the silent auction will be tickets to a University of Illinois football game; an offer for a drink with Champaign Mayor Don Gerard and a T-shirt; a guest DJ spot on WPGU 107.1 FM; passes to Champaign-Urbana's 2011 Pygmalion Music Festival in September; gift certificates to Exile on Main Street, Black Dog Smoke & Ale House, Ippatsu Salon, Triple T Car Wash and Oil Change, Crane Alley, and Kennedy's; and complete-series DVD box sets of "Ally McBeal," "Deadwood," "Seinfeld," "Twin Peaks" and "The Wire." Mike 'N Molly's will also donate 10 percent of the night's sales.

All proceeds from the evening will go to The Litchford Family Benefit Fund established at Busey Bank. Those wishing to donate can do so by mentioning the fund at any Busey Bank branch or mailing a check to Busey Bank, Attn: Tellers, 100 W. University Ave., Champaign, IL 61820. The check should be made out to "The Litchford Family Benefit Fund," with "donation" written in the memo line.

More information is available at the event's Facebook page. Go to http://www.facebook.com and type "Benefit for the Litchford family" in the search bar at the top.