Lakewood City Council Honors Firefighters For Cancer Fundraiser

Lakewood City Council gave some special recognition to three Lakewood firefighters who took service to the community to another level.

Lakewood firefighters Ryan Birth, Christian Flores and Michael Tripodi raised more than $7,000 for the Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation, a non-profit that helps support families impacted by cancer.

Birth said that the effort was personal. Two wives of Lakewood firefighters are battling breast cancer. He also noted they selected the organization because it ensures that donations directly benefit those who need them.

“Going into this, we’d hoped to raise $1,000, but it really got rolling,” said Birth, adding that once the effort got underway, they sold 851 T-shirts to people as far away as Michigan, New York and Texas.

“We thought it would be a good way to get involved and do something positive...You know how Lakewood is; this community is incredibly supportive.”

Council presented the firefighters with a special resolution for their effort at the December 15 meeting.

“Occasionally, we have a chance to honor the work of colleagues who go above and beyond a job description,” said council president Mary Louise Madigan. “Lakewood Firefighters Local 382 made the entire city look good.”

For more information about the Josette Beddell Memorial Foundation, visit the organization’s website.