Toronto Firefighter - Duncan Gibson
Donation protected
Duncan Gibson was an Etobicoke native who followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a firefighter with the City of Toronto. For almost 20 years, not only did Duncan dedicate himself to serving the Toronto community as a first responder, he became a husband to the love of his life and a loving and adoring father to two beautiful girls; Willow 8, and Marigold 4. Like most of us, until 2 years ago Duncan was living a joyful and hectic life, balancing work and family. Despite feeling tired and stressed like all parents, he was thankful for the life he lived. Duncan was always an upbeat and hardworking firefighter, respecting the role he played in his community, viewing his career as a firefighter, a privilege more than a job - just like his father.
Very suddenly, in the summer of 2018, Duncan began experiencing relentless heartburn type sensations and difficulty swallowing. When told it would take weeks to get an exam done, Duncan persisted and went to his Doctor’s office at opening and demanded to be examined more thoroughly….likely knowing deep down that it was more serious than he wished. Unfortunately, he was right. Duncan was given the shocking news that he had stage-4 gastro-esophageal cancer.
Duncan immediately began treatment, and for the past two years had been battling the fight of his life with positivity and braveness, popping into the firehall between chemo treatments to make sure his other “family” knew he was well and fighting with everything he had. Unfortunately, while Duncan was fighting his own battle, he had to say goodbye to his father who succumbed to prostate cancer just last year on January 30th, 2019.
And sadly, on July 6th, 2020 Duncan lost his own battle with cancer at the young age of 40.
We live in a particularly stressful time and all suffer from anxiety and hardships - but Duncan Gibson and his family have had to struggle with more than most of us can comprehend. The type of pain and uncertainty facing Duncan's family must be met with support and empathy from us.
Unfortunately, even though Duncan dedicated his entire career to firefighting and as a first responder in his community, he has fallen short of the presumptive cancer legislation for firefighters by 5 years. A coverage that would ensure his wife and children be taken care of financially in the event of his death. A Toronto Firefighter, who dedicated his entire life to protecting citizens of our community, and whose own father dedicated his life to the City of Toronto, is being overlooked when it comes to protecting and caring for his own family in the case of his death.
We will never comprehend the amount of pain and loss that the Gibson family has experienced and will continue to face, but we can come together to step up when the governing bodies won’t. We can collectively raise funds and let Duncan's family know that his girls’ future education will be taken care of.
Let’s show our support and respect by making sure his family is taken care of now and in the future.
Please donate now. All proceeds will go directly to his wife and two girls, Willow and Marigold and will be put towards their future educations.
Very suddenly, in the summer of 2018, Duncan began experiencing relentless heartburn type sensations and difficulty swallowing. When told it would take weeks to get an exam done, Duncan persisted and went to his Doctor’s office at opening and demanded to be examined more thoroughly….likely knowing deep down that it was more serious than he wished. Unfortunately, he was right. Duncan was given the shocking news that he had stage-4 gastro-esophageal cancer.
Duncan immediately began treatment, and for the past two years had been battling the fight of his life with positivity and braveness, popping into the firehall between chemo treatments to make sure his other “family” knew he was well and fighting with everything he had. Unfortunately, while Duncan was fighting his own battle, he had to say goodbye to his father who succumbed to prostate cancer just last year on January 30th, 2019.
And sadly, on July 6th, 2020 Duncan lost his own battle with cancer at the young age of 40.
We live in a particularly stressful time and all suffer from anxiety and hardships - but Duncan Gibson and his family have had to struggle with more than most of us can comprehend. The type of pain and uncertainty facing Duncan's family must be met with support and empathy from us.
Unfortunately, even though Duncan dedicated his entire career to firefighting and as a first responder in his community, he has fallen short of the presumptive cancer legislation for firefighters by 5 years. A coverage that would ensure his wife and children be taken care of financially in the event of his death. A Toronto Firefighter, who dedicated his entire life to protecting citizens of our community, and whose own father dedicated his life to the City of Toronto, is being overlooked when it comes to protecting and caring for his own family in the case of his death.
We will never comprehend the amount of pain and loss that the Gibson family has experienced and will continue to face, but we can come together to step up when the governing bodies won’t. We can collectively raise funds and let Duncan's family know that his girls’ future education will be taken care of.
Let’s show our support and respect by making sure his family is taken care of now and in the future.
Please donate now. All proceeds will go directly to his wife and two girls, Willow and Marigold and will be put towards their future educations.
Organizer and beneficiary
Toronto Firefighter
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Kate Gibson
Beneficiary
