Heroes, on and off the job

They work hard – sometimes risking their lives – to keep the people in their community safe every day. In January, members of the Fairfield Fire Fighters Association showed that helping people in difficult situations is more than a job. The association’s Charitable Foundation donated $17,500 to the Tommy Fund Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. The Tommy Fund provides emotional, educational, medical and financial support to families with children who are receiving cancer treatment. The Fire Fighters Association made the donation in honor of a fellow firefighter who is undergoing cancer treatment and another who is a cancer survivor. Funds were raised through the annual Santa Express Ride, in which Fairfield residents donate $25 per household for a visit from Santa on a fire truck. The event started 11 years ago with six visits; in 2017, Santa made 110 stops.