In June we brought you the story of Michigan firefighter Brad Wilson, who faced a diagnosis of mesothelioma. His brothers at the firehouse rallied around the 25-year veteran of the Portage Fire Department, working his shifts so that he could obtain long-term disability leave, and helping raise money for him to travel to Houston for treatment.

Sadly, the Kalamazoo Gazette reports that Brad has lost his fight. He passed away Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at age 56, from health issues compounded by mesothelioma, the paper reported.

The newspaper quotes Jim Kelecava, a fellow firefighter, as saying, “When you’re in this profession, there’s a brotherhood you feel with your co-workers, and that’s the same strong bond we all felt with Brad.” They say his willingness to put others first will be his legacy.

Wilson was laid to rest on Saturday, Jan. 3.

We are saddened to learn of Wilson’s passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Firefighters in the city of Portage, Michigan, are used to facing challenges. Their daily work is filled with the unexpected. Recently, however, they’ve responded to a call that has nothing to do with smoke and flames, but everything to do with helping to save a life, and this time it’s one of their own – 25-year veteran firefighter Brad Wilson, diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports members of the Portage Fire Department, led by Rick Nason, a firefighter and president of the Portage Professional Firefighters Union, and firefighter Jim Kelecava, have organized a community fund-raising event to help Wilson and his family. The event, a spaghetti supper, will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5855, on S. Sprinkle Road in Portage. Donations will be taken at the door.

The paper reports Wilson and his wife, Cinda, and mother, Mary Lubbert, leave next week for Houston, where Wilson will undergo evaluation at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

His co-workers at Station 3, as well as throughout the Portage Fire Department, say Wilson was always the first in line to offer help to anyone who needed it, taking extra shifts, participating in the department’s Honor Guard and raising money for underprivileged children and muscular dystrophy, according to the Gazette. It was automatic, they said, to rally around their friend and colleague.

If you live in the Portage area, please take the time to visit this fund-raising event!