Skip to content

Firefighter prepares for stem cell transplant

Friends rally to help raise funds for Duerksen family
23101580_web1_201021-PQN-Help-for-Firefighter-Duerksenfamily_1
Greg Duerksen and his family. (gofundme photo)

Vancouver Island volunteer firefighter Greg Duerksen was diagnosed with leukemia last spring.

Friends are now rallying behind Duerksen and his family, helping them in any way possible.

Duerksen is preparing for a stem cell transplant and has to spend time at Vancouver General Hospital.

It’s a difficult time for the Duerksens, who must finance on their own the cost to stay in Vancouver close to the hospital and travel expenses that include a myriad of ferry trips as well as food.

A gofundme account ‘Punchit for Greg Duerksen’ has been opened by Qualicum Beach’s Matthew Smiley and friends to help the family. They stated in the account that “Duerksen’s positive attitude in light of this life changing news has been nothing less than inspiring to everyone his story has reached.”

READ MORE: 100+ Women Who Care to donate $26k to Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs

Duerksen, following the diagnosis on the day of his emergency transfer to Vancouver General Hospital, woke up and posted: “just like every day, I get up, I make the bed, I have a shower, get dressed and then tackle whatever might be in front of me. Speed bumps ahead but I’m gonna punch it because suspension’s cheap!”

“Well, suspension is cheap but fighting cancer is not,” friends stated in the account. The goal is to help meet some of the family’s immediate needs particularly their finances, which friends said they don’t need to be added to their list of concerns.

The goal is to raise $20,000 and to date more than half of the amount has been met.

Those who want to help the Duerksens can do so online.

— NEWS Staff

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter