Local restaurant helping a friend battle cancer with pizza

ALPENA, Mich. — When one local restaurant owner found out his best friend had been diagnosed with cancer, he wanted to help by using one of the things he does best- pizza.

Mike Anderson is the owner of Big Mike’s Pizza in Alpena. Just a few weeks ago, Anderson learned that his best friend had been diagnosed with cancer, and he wanted to do more than send some thoughts and prayers.

“We’re running a special for my friend Skeeter,” Anderson said. “He’s been diagnosed with cancer. We donate $2 from every order that we do.”

That is how the “Skeeter Special” was born. Anderson and James “Skeeter” Skireski have a special bond, and the two have been friends for a while.

“Skeeter’s been my friend for 25, 30 years,” Anderson said. “He’s my golf partner, we won a championship together. We hang out, drink beer, ride motorcycles together and stuff like that.”

Skeeter has four children and some grandchildren that Big Mike’s is donating to for help with any of the troubles that come with a cancer diagnosis. Besides their bond, Anderson has his own personal experiences that motivate him to help his friend.

“I lost both my parents to cancer when I was younger,” Anderson said. “Anything I can do to help other people get through it. It sucks, that’s just the bottom line.”

Anderson has done special promotions in the past for coworkers and other friends. He says the Alpena community always steps up in a time like this.

“They’re awesome, our community is awesome to us small businesses,” Anderson said. “Not just me- they treat us right when we do stuff like this. Through this past year, they’ve been sticking with us.”

The “Skeeter Special” is an XL, 3-topping pizza and some garlic bread, and it will run for the next four weeks. Anderson and friends of Skeeter are also putting on a benefit dinner at Joe’s Bar on Saturday, June 12.