GIVING TUESDAY presents #MyGivingStory
Every Act of Giving Has a Story This is Ours. Choose Carney Strong Initiative as your chosen nonprofit and help us win up to $10K. Head over to MyGivingStory and vote today, and every.
December 3rd, we're joining a national day of generosity. #GivingTuesday. It's day when you can make a big impact on Carney Strong Initiative and on firefighters across the country.
With your help, we'll raise funds to Continue the Fight Against Firefighter Cancer, make more donations of decontamination supplies than in years past, and expand out the supplies
we donate for 2020!
2019 Giving Tuesday Campaign
Thoughts From a Firefighter Widow
41 years, 7 months, and 21 days on earth. That is how long Josh was alive for. Lucky for me, I was a part of his life for 24 years and 12 days. But our daughter Shayla, well she got robbed with only 16 years, 10 months, and 25 days with her dad. That is the reality of firefighter cancer. We didn't catch his cancer early. By the time he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma (malignant), it had already spread throughout his body with a vengeance. Cancer has stolen so much from us, this is a story I wish upon no one.
Thankfully though, not all firefighter cancer stories take the same path as ours. So often you hear about the firefighters who kicked cancer to the curb and are back on shift, or who are enjoying retirement. I like those stories, even if they aren't mine. Of course, I will not lie, I wish every day our family cancer story had a different ending. But that is not the reality we live in, is it. I have never been the type of person to sit in silence with something that weighs me down. I believe, actually I know, that is one of the reasons why Josh fell in love with me so long ago. I am not one to just take the waves without punching back. I couldn't stop his cancer, I couldn't save us from this tragedy. But I can do something for others. I can and I will speak up. I will advocate prevention.
The Carney Strong Initiative isn’t just helping fire departments throughout the country with their cancer prevention methods. It isn’t just about healing my broken heart. Each widow grieves differently. Each family, each department, each brother grieves in their own way. And I have learned that with a simple act of kindness, to give back to someone you don’t know, well that helps with the healing for everyone. And if we are able to prevent this tragedy from happening to any other fire family, well that is the greatest gift of all.
This past October 19th, was the 2 year anniversary of Josh's death. With the support and generosity of so many, Carney Strong was able to stop by 30 fire departments across the country to make small donations of Responder Wipes and educational material to help improve cancer prevention methods within the departments. It fills my heart with such joy to see others help us spread the message, and further our mission to ensure Everyone Goes Home.
Click Here to learn more about Decon Day 2019.
FIREFIGHTER CANCER
PREVENTION ADVOCATES
