ELLENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – A charity car wash held Sunday drew community support for two North River Fire Department firefighters diagnosed with cancer.
Chad Ballard, a North River firefighter, was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Calliope Newland, a fellow North River firefighter, was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks ago. All money raised at Sunday’s event will go directly toward treatment costs for both firefighters, organizers said.
‘A worldwide brotherhood’
The event featured raffles, bounce houses, sports memorabilia and a dunk tank. Ballard said the outpouring of support reflects the bond shared across fire departments.
“I’m a brother and they are going to take care of me and that’s just how it is and I would do the exact same thing for any of them and it doesn’t matter if they are with North River or with any other department — it’s a worldwide brotherhood,” Ballard said…