Community Corner
Buffalo Grove Firefighter Receives Outpouring of Support in Cancer Battle
Ryan McCarthy, 25, saves lives as a Buffalo Grove firefighter and paramedic. Now his friends, family and even strangers are rallying around him as he fights cancer.
Just a few weeks ago, Ryan McCarthy was living his normal life as a father and Buffalo Grove firefighter/paramedic.
Then he got the news that changed everything. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with B-cell Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He will undergo six rounds of chemotherapy over the course of three months.
His cousin, Brittany Karalis, knew Ryan would face an expensive battle. On July 22, one week after Ryan’s diagnosis, she launched an online fundraiser on his behalf.
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She set the fundraising goal at $10,000, a number she selected based on similar fundraising efforts she’d seen. The link was shared via Facebook among family members and news of the effort quickly spread outside their circle.
“We reached the goal in four days,” Karalis said. “He’s overwhelmed by the love and support that people are showing him.”
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Donations continue to flow in from Ryan’s family, friends and colleagues.
The effort has even drawn contributions from strangers.
“We are residents of BG, we do not know Ryan personally but want to show our support. Ryan and his family are in our thoughts and prayers,” one donor wrote on the fundraising page.
As of Aug. 9, donations had exceeded $13,000. The money will help Ryan pay for chemotherapy and prescriptions, transportation between his Rolling Meadows home and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and healthy food. It will also help his mother, who lives off of disability checks due to multiple sclerosis, pay for their home, Karalis said.
“I’m sure it doesn’t hurt for him to have more money,” she said.
In addition to money from more than 180 donors, the effort has also generated heartfelt messages from McCarthy’s supporters.
“Many trials come into our lives but always keep in mind that your family, friends and even strangers will have your back,” one donor wrote on the fundraising page.
The fundraiser runs through Aug. 16 on GiveForward.com.
The Buffalo Grove Fire Department is pulling for Ryan, Fire Chief Terry Vavra said.
“He’s got a tremendous family support system,” he added.
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