Be a Hero for our Hero, Chief Helms
Donation protected
Many Firefighters today begin their journey to that career by dreaming of being a hero. The Chief of our small Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Chuck Helms, lived the life of a hero for the Georgetown, Kentucky community for many years before retiring from the Fire Department. Chief Helms stepped back into the role of a Hero when he agreed to come and be our Volunteer Fire Chief in the spring of 2015. Now, after 36 years of marriage to the love of his life, Kim, he is trying to be her hero.
During Thanksgiving of 2015, while my fellow volunteer brothers and I were at happy family gatherings with our spouses and loved ones watching parades and enjoying football on the television, our Chief, Chuck, was at the hospital with Kim. They were thought they were fighting a normal run of the mill illness, but were given some of the worst news any spouse can ever hear. The news that his companion, his mate, his partner in life had Cancer. Not just any cancer, but terminal Stage 4 adenocarcinoma non-small cell that had spread to her lymph nodes, main branches of the lungs, pelvis and spine.
As the days have passed, treatments have begun, and the battle is being waged. We, Chuck’s firefighters, have watched this man play the role of Hero as he struggles with the day to day grief of watching his beautiful wife suffering with treatments, breathing issues, most assuredly depression and fear of the future without her in his life. Without a doubt this is not the retirement they had dreamed of sharing for all those years while he was serving our community.
Firefighting is a career that rewards the firefighter in smiles on children's faces while showing them the fire engine; the smile on the little girl whose stranded cat you just rescued from high in a tree; or the tears of joy from the parents of the child you rescued from a house fire. However, that career, the career of being a hero for our communities most times does not provide for large savings, wealthy retirements or great insurance benefits.
Of course, in today’s world we all know the costs of battling a terminal illness, trying to keep the household afloat and doing all you can day to day just to have one more moment, one more minute and one more memory made with the love of your life can be more than most can afford. That is why as fire department brothers of Chuck, we have created this page to ask for help on his behalf. Chuck is a strong man, a just man, an honest man. But he is also a man like many of us that would never ask for help. But he is a man that with the health and comfort of his loving wife at heart would appreciate and accept any help that is given.
Please Help us Help our Hero and donate whatever you feel led to today to assist Chuck in providing medications, treatments, and care for Kim. We thank you in advance for any assistance you can give.
During Thanksgiving of 2015, while my fellow volunteer brothers and I were at happy family gatherings with our spouses and loved ones watching parades and enjoying football on the television, our Chief, Chuck, was at the hospital with Kim. They were thought they were fighting a normal run of the mill illness, but were given some of the worst news any spouse can ever hear. The news that his companion, his mate, his partner in life had Cancer. Not just any cancer, but terminal Stage 4 adenocarcinoma non-small cell that had spread to her lymph nodes, main branches of the lungs, pelvis and spine.
As the days have passed, treatments have begun, and the battle is being waged. We, Chuck’s firefighters, have watched this man play the role of Hero as he struggles with the day to day grief of watching his beautiful wife suffering with treatments, breathing issues, most assuredly depression and fear of the future without her in his life. Without a doubt this is not the retirement they had dreamed of sharing for all those years while he was serving our community.
Firefighting is a career that rewards the firefighter in smiles on children's faces while showing them the fire engine; the smile on the little girl whose stranded cat you just rescued from high in a tree; or the tears of joy from the parents of the child you rescued from a house fire. However, that career, the career of being a hero for our communities most times does not provide for large savings, wealthy retirements or great insurance benefits.
Of course, in today’s world we all know the costs of battling a terminal illness, trying to keep the household afloat and doing all you can day to day just to have one more moment, one more minute and one more memory made with the love of your life can be more than most can afford. That is why as fire department brothers of Chuck, we have created this page to ask for help on his behalf. Chuck is a strong man, a just man, an honest man. But he is also a man like many of us that would never ask for help. But he is a man that with the health and comfort of his loving wife at heart would appreciate and accept any help that is given.
Please Help us Help our Hero and donate whatever you feel led to today to assist Chuck in providing medications, treatments, and care for Kim. We thank you in advance for any assistance you can give.
Organiser and beneficiary
Dale Perry
Organiser
Stamping Ground, KY
Charles Helms Jr
Beneficiary
