Orange County firefighters are holding an event Friday night to raise funds to support firefighters and their families who are battling cancer.

The first ever Orange County Firefighters’ Bash Against Cancer was put together to help raise awareness of the increased occupational risk firefighters have of contracting the disease. But it also was inspired by a personal story from one of the county’s departments.

Chapel Hill Fire Chief Matt Sullivan recently spoke with WCHL and shared the story of Chapel Hill firefighter Jimmy Lambert, who has been battling a rare form of cancer since earlier this year.

“Jimmy called me right after Christmas last year,” Sullivan said, “and had a mass in his thigh and didn’t know what it was. Further evaluation determined it to be cancer. They radiated and thought they had gotten the cancer out, but the time they did, it had metastasized to other parts of his body.”

Lambert’s diagnosis came after the family had taken another serious blow.

“Additionally, Jimmy’s wife Tracy was also diagnosed with cancer about six months prior,” said Sullivan. “Unfortunately, she passed about a month ago after a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer. Jimmy is now a widower with two sons and still fighting against his illness.”

Lambert’s cancer is no anomaly in the firefighting business. Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found firefighters are nine percent more likely to receive cancer diagnoses than the general population in the U.S. The causes are still being discovered, but contaminants on gear and exhaust from fire trucks in the station are two factors in the increased likelihood.

While Chapel Hill Fire’s new Fire Station 2 addresses those concerns, Sullivan said there are other risks that can’t be helped.

“As someone fights fire,” he said, “their core body temperature increases. For every degree it increases, that opens up pores [more] and makes the body more [susceptible] to absorb toxins.”

All proceeds from Friday’s event will go to Lambert and his sons. The bash will feature a beer garden, food trucks and apparel for sale. Fire trucks will be there for people to interact with and learn about and there will be a best mustache contest.

According to Sullivan, the goal is for this event to happen every year because the firefighting community knows Lambert is not alone in his struggles.

“Next year, unfortunately,” said Sullivan, “there will be someone else in the fire service locally who’s impacted by cancer. So, we want to continue this as an annual event to support any family in the future.”

The first Orange County Firefighters’ Bash Against Cancer will be free and open to the public. The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. in the courtyard of 140 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

Photo via Town of Chapel Hill

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