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 My name is Tim Catterall. For the last 22 years I have been employed as a professional firefighter in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and a proud member of the Burlington Professional Firefighters Association Local 1552. In November 2004, at the age of 48, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Being diagnosed with cancer changes many lives, not only for those that have the cancer but their friends and families as well. At first I didn’t want anyone to know about my disease and I really don’t know why.Was it because I felt guilty and thought it was my fault that this happened to me? Did I think others would now look at me differently? I was unsure of the answers to these questions, so I stayed quiet. With time and gained knowledge of my disease, accepting what had happened to me brought on the desire to help other people in similar situations. I started by selling wristbands for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Friends and family stepped up and supported me in my endeavor.
Mentioning my disease to a fellow firefighter, he was certain that I would be covered under WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), so at least my wife and family will be okay. I was stunned to say the least. No, my family will not be okay because I won’t be there and no, I don’t want to die early, nobody does. Cancer is not about dying, it is a catalyst that makes you realize just how important your life is. It is up to you to decide what to do with that information. I want to grow old with my wife, see my children get married, and to be a grandparent. Many firefighters may be covered under WSIB or Presumptive Legislation but what about our brothers and sisters who are not, and can’t get coverage? Why should some be covered and others not? What can be done to help our firefighters and continue to help other people? With many questions came an idea; the goal is life, the plan is simple. In 2006 I founded a registered non-for-profit Charitable Organization (#85476 5195 RR0001) called F.A.C.E. to assist our firefighters. F.A.C.E. stands for “Firefighters Against Cancer’s Existence” and the main objective of the foundation is to unite firefighters everywhere to stand together one day a year, that being September 21st, and donate $5 to F.A.C.E.
Monies raised are turned over to the leading cancer research facilities. There are over 200 cancers, which ones do we donate too? We currently donate to the 8 cancers under most "Presumptive Legislation's", which are leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, esophageal, colorectal, brain, bladder, kidney and ureter cancers. Funds collected by F.A.C.E. are put towards research and development of a cure for these various cancers. We seek out the best sources to assist us in achieving our goals. One of the places we provide monies to is Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, one of the top 5 cancer research facilities in the world. By donating to these cancers, millions of stricken people are helped as well. We need to take care of ourselves so we can continue to take care of others.
Though it is our choice to become a firefighter, it is also an honor that is bestowed upon us to assist others in need. We do this profession because deep within ourselves is an urge to help people, and what better way to satisfy that urge than becoming a firefighter. We fight fires, save lives; raise funds for MD, help families in need and get involved in many other functions that require firefighter’s aid. We keep giving to others until sometimes, with our last breath, we give our lives. Dying in the line of duty is a risk we are well aware of; however, we do our best to safeguard against it. We become proficient in many aspects of firefighting through knowledge, training and using protective safety equipment. Why are we not taking care of ourselves through training and education regarding the dangers of cancer? Getting cancer from doing a job we love to do should not be part of this profession.
F.A.C.E. is built around unity, the unity of all firefighters coming together to fight an evil disease. We educate firefighters of the dangers of cancer through prevention and awareness--however we don’t stop there. By putting our efforts towards research and finding cures to the diseases that afflict our firefighters, we will have an opportunity to change the course of our future health. When we do that, all who suffer from these diseases will benefit from our actions.
F.A.C.E. was created because cancer of all different kinds is becoming more and more prevalent among firefighters. There is no discrimination in the eyes of cancer. To it, everyone is equal. It takes away good people before their time. As individuals who fight fires we are at a much greater risk at getting cancer than the general public. We are treating the symptoms when we should be stopping the causes. If we work together towards one common goal, the possibilities are endless.
We want to put our F.A.C.E. in front of everyone and let them know we, the firefighters, are here to help. So please put on your F.A.C.E., stand together and do what we do best-help others. |
