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Friends turn out to support firefighter’s battle |
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Monday, September 28 2009 |
By LINDA HOSKINS
for The Post and Mail
Saturday was an overwhelming, but grateful day for South Whitley resident Duane “Dewy” Loe.
Loe, 42, is a 21-year veteran firefighter with the Cleveland Twp. Fire Department and has been diagnosed with stage IV cancer of the tongue and (neck) lymph nodes. He is currently undergoing aggressive cancer treatments.
Due to many rounds of chemotherapy Loe has been unable to work so the Cleveland Township Fire Department decided to step in and help with medical costs by hosting the first annual Dewy’s Run. Firefighter Dale Hogen was chairman of the event.
The benefit began with registration, lunch, Texas Hold’em tournament, and the fun run started at 2 p.m.
The run was an 80-mile course including bikes, jeeps and classic cars. Beginning at Cleveland Twp., riders and drivers made their way to seven other local fire departments, including Washington, Jefferson, Union, Churubusco/Smith, Thorncreek, Columbia and Larwill/Richland.
The benefit brought together more than 1,000 people, along with approximately 95 bikes, 23 jeeps and classic cars.
Following the run, there was a hog roast, kids’ games, 50/50 drawing and live music by Biff and the Cruisers.
Loe currently has chemotherapy once a week, with radiation five days a week. The doctors told Loe that they are noticing a big difference from the treatments and he is making progress. He has three more treatments for both chemotherapy and radiation. After that, he will wait three months and the doctors will decide if he should undergo surgery. Loe hopes to return to his job at Warsaw Chemical in November.
“This has been overwhelming with the fire department doing this for me. I’m having an off day, but hope to stay for the entire day. I would like to thank the fire department for taking on this project and to the community for their support,” Loe said.
Loe is married to Teresa who works in the cafeteria at Whitko Middle School and son Colin attends the third grade at South Whitley Elementary School.
“We had a great turnout and a lot of support from the community, along with people willing to help on their own time. Thank you to all the Whitley County fire departments for being at the other department bases during the run, and a special thank you to Washington, Jefferson and Columbia City fire departments for covering our department so we could put on this event for Duane,” Cleveland Township fire chief Joe Jackson said.
Members of the Cleveland Township Fire Department are Kevin Shoemaker, Jim Jeffries, John Estep, Kent Slater, Eric Fulk, Kip Thorne, Dale Hogen, Jarred Lancaster, Terry Gardner, Mike Whitt, Doug Kessie, Doug Morrissey, Angie Heron, Steve Weber, Daryl Mast, Terry Ulshafer, Preston Bolinger, Mike Sands, Tom Warner, Tom Kessie, Chris Trier, Clint Hatton, Duane Loe and Joe Jackson, chief of the department.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, September 29 2009 )
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