Alex Slitz/Daily NewsNick Wilkins of Bowling Green, also known as Broadway the Clown, underwent surgery June 1 for prostate cancer.

Even as a patient in the hospital, Nick Wilkins couldn’t help clowning around. With his round, red nose and big clown feet, he brought smiles to the faces of the doctors and nurses as well as other patients.

“I’m a laugh merchant,” Wilkins said. “I peddle laughs.”

Wilkins, better known locally as Broadway the Clown, has been making people laugh for decades, so it was only natural for him to maintain his sense of humor even as he prepared for surgery. Everywhere he goes, he makes people smile, but now the community is making Wilkins smile by coming together to help after a recent bout with prostate cancer.

Wilkins is the beneficiary of the sixth annual Day for Danny Golf Benefit, which will be Monday at Indian Hills Country Club.

“Broadway the Clown is always a vital part of any event we have in this community,” said Bobby Hilliard, one of the organizers of the event. “He’s a staple here. We thought it would be great to sponsor him.”

Wilkins was diagnosed with prostate cancer just three months ago after a routine physical.

“When I found out I had cancer, I kept it quiet,” Wilkins said, explaining that he was more of a giver than a taker and didn’t want a big fuss made over him.

Ever the performer, he even postponed his surgery because he had three shows scheduled on the day his doctor suggested.

So on June 1, he finally had the surgery and came back to work at his shop, The Balloon-A-Gram Company, the next week. He’s doing his first performance as Broadway this weekend.

“I’m one of those old troupers,” Wilkins said. “The show must go on. As long as I’m physically able, I’m going to put on a clown face.”

Wilkins got good news this week – his doctor told him he is cancer free. He’ll still have to be tested periodically, but the prognosis is good.

While Wilkins gets back in the swing of things, he has many medical bills he’s trying to pay. Having had neck and back surgery in the past, Wilkins was denied insurance, and when he found an insurance company that would accept him, the price was too high for him to afford.

Wilkins said the hospital stay alone was $25,000 and that doesn’t include fees for doctors, tests and other expenses.

Hilliard said the Day for Danny Golf Benefit is designed to help cancer patients who have no insurance. It began in 2006 as the family and friends of the late Danny Harrison came together to support him in his battle against pancreatic cancer. Harrison died not long after the first event at age 44, but the fundraiser has continued as a way to help those who, like Harrison, have no insurance and are dealing with cancer.

Harrison’s best friend, Marty Wilkins, promised Harrison’s daughter that he would keep her father’s spirit alive by continuing the Day for Danny.

“I am certainly going to fulfill that,” Marty Wilkins said.

The day begins with a lunch at 11 a.m. Monday and golf gets under way with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. They can take up to 36 teams and individuals can sponsor holes and golfers. They also take in many donated items that they raffle off.

“We’ll take whatever we can get,” Hilliard said.

“We’ve had a tremendous response,” he added. “We’re expecting a record year.”

Even if you don’t want to golf, Hilliard said people can just come out, make a donation and show their support.

“There are so many people who live in this community who have been touched by Nick,” Hilliard said. “Everybody in the community knows him.”

Nick Wilkins said the support he has received has been amazing.

“It’s just very humbling,” he said. “And I certainly appreciate it.”

Nick Wilkins will be at the Day for Danny event and Marty Wilkins, who is a distant cousin, said that each year they take time to recognize and encourage that year’s recipient.

“We tell them they’re not alone in battling this,” Marty Wilkins said. “We’re here not only to help you emotionally, spiritually and financially, but this is a community that cares and we’ll keep fighting for a cure.”

— To find out more about the Day for Danny, call Hilliard at 779-3031 or go to the Day for Danny page on Facebook.