ORANGEVILLE - Mark Davis has spent the past 25 years helping his neighbors as a member of the Orangeville Fire Department. Now his comrades want to help him.
"Mark always goes above and beyond for everyone. That's just who he is," said Stephanie Kruse, one of the four people in charge of this weekend's benefits for Davis.
Davis was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on July 28 - the same day his mother began treatment for her own cancer. It didn't take long for his fellow firemen to start planning.
"We just picked a date. We do a lot of fundraisers, so this was kind of a piece of cake," firefighter Bill Kruse said.
An entire weekend of events is planned to raise money and awareness. From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday will be a pancake breakfast and a bake sale at the fire station, and Rock River Valley Blood Center will be on site taking blood donations. On Sunday, a golf outing will kick off the day at 9 a.m. at Brush Creek Golf Course. A pulled pork dinner, silent auction and 50-50 raffle will also be held at the course from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
"You never think one of us will get it (cancer). A lot of people were stunned," Bill Kruse said. "But we are a brotherhood. We stick together."
He said other fire departments, like Lena's and Stockton's, have been helpful, and some Monroe firefighters will be donating blood on Saturday as well, according to Monroe firefighter Chuck Montgomery.
"It's hard for me to quantify what all we've received for the auction. All of the other firemen have been out getting donations. Everyone wanted to help," Stephanie Kruse said.
All of the financial gains will go into an account to help pay for medical and personal expenses of Mark and his life partner, Mary Pat Herbst. For those interested in donating, checks can be written to the Orangeville Fire Department c/o Mark Davis and dropped off at any Community Bank.
"Mark always goes above and beyond for everyone. That's just who he is," said Stephanie Kruse, one of the four people in charge of this weekend's benefits for Davis.
Davis was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on July 28 - the same day his mother began treatment for her own cancer. It didn't take long for his fellow firemen to start planning.
"We just picked a date. We do a lot of fundraisers, so this was kind of a piece of cake," firefighter Bill Kruse said.
An entire weekend of events is planned to raise money and awareness. From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday will be a pancake breakfast and a bake sale at the fire station, and Rock River Valley Blood Center will be on site taking blood donations. On Sunday, a golf outing will kick off the day at 9 a.m. at Brush Creek Golf Course. A pulled pork dinner, silent auction and 50-50 raffle will also be held at the course from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
"You never think one of us will get it (cancer). A lot of people were stunned," Bill Kruse said. "But we are a brotherhood. We stick together."
He said other fire departments, like Lena's and Stockton's, have been helpful, and some Monroe firefighters will be donating blood on Saturday as well, according to Monroe firefighter Chuck Montgomery.
"It's hard for me to quantify what all we've received for the auction. All of the other firemen have been out getting donations. Everyone wanted to help," Stephanie Kruse said.
All of the financial gains will go into an account to help pay for medical and personal expenses of Mark and his life partner, Mary Pat Herbst. For those interested in donating, checks can be written to the Orangeville Fire Department c/o Mark Davis and dropped off at any Community Bank.