On November 6, 2025 Rickie was diagnosed with Moderately Invasive Adenocarcinoma, a form of colon cancer that was also found in three of his lymph nodes. Since then, following surgery to remove the tumor along with multiple tests, he was officially diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon cancer. Due to the aggressiveness of the cancer, Rickie has been prescribed chemotherapy bi-weekly for a total of 6 months.

Since he received this diagnosis just prior to returning to work from vacation, Rickie will be off work for a minimum of 8 months. Although Rickie receives illness benefits, I have created this fundraiser to help with travel expenses for oncologist appointments in Midland, MI along with other living expenses for him and his wife, Jessica.

Rickie has been a loyal employee of Interlake for 18 years, working his way up from deckhand to permanent Bosun on the Paul R. Tregurtha. Everyone who has worked with Rickie, knows him to be a very hard worker and one to never back down from a challenge. Rickie is now facing his greatest challenge yet and it is our hope that this fundraiser will help alleviate some of the financial burden and stress that he now carries. Any donation, large or small, will go a long way to show our support and appreciation for a very brave man and to reaffirm that he has people in his corner as he prepares for this fight.