GORHAM – A catastrophic fire last month that shut down a downtown landmark eatery has galvanized the Gorham community, which is sponsoring a fundraiser this week.

The Gorham House of Pizza has been closed following a fire on April 19. To make matters worse, a week after the fire, owner Angelo Sotiropoulos, 63, was diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer.

The fundraiser, Operation GHOP, for Sotiropoulos and his employees, will be 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at the Costello Field House on the Gorham Campus of the University of Southern Maine. The university is donating use of its facility. Admission is free.

Sotiropoulos, known throughout the town for his past support of schools and university programs, will attend. He said Saturday’s event would be “emotional in a positive way.”

“I’m going to have a lot of hugs and tears,” he said, “Tears of thank you.”

Operation GHOP will include food, fun and music. Christy Cousins of TD Bank is one of the organizers. Cousins said events from 2-5 p.m. would include family fun with activities including face-painting and a bounce house.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Cousins said.

Cousins said a “Happy Hour with Angelo” is set for 4-6 p.m. and live music from 4-9 p.m.

Town Councilor Matt Mattingly, also an event organizer, said Carson Lynch and a trio will play Irish folk music in the late afternoon, and Jerks of Grass, a bluegrass group, will entertain at 6:30 p.m.

A barbecue buffet, cash bar, 50/50 raffle and a silent auction continue throughout the event. The silent auction features more than 100 donations from the community. An unusual auction item includes a chance to be a morning show co-host on Coast 93.1. Mattingly said the radio show starts at 5 a.m.

Sotiropoulos said Tuesday he will undergo an operation on Thursday, June 14, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“I believe I’ll come out OK,” he said. “I believe God is on my side.”

Sotiropoulos, who emigrated to the United States from Greece 40 years ago, has operated the Gorham House of Pizza since 1980 and bought the building four years later. The fire started in a second-floor apartment over the restaurant. He hopes to re-open the restaurant within three to four months.

Sotiropoulos praised the support he’s received from the community and will be at the fundraiser.

“I’ll be there on Saturday,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Mattingly said 534 people already have committed to attend the fundraiser.

“We’re expecting over 1,000 people to show up,” Mattingly said.