‘Be The Match’ donor event held for Nassau firefighter battling 9/11-related cancer
Franklin Square volunteer firefighter Chris Dand is battling a rare form of cancer, and his firehouse is trying to help save his life by finding a donor. He is a longtime member of the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department and helped at ground zero.
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A Nassau community came together Wednesday to help a hero firefighter whose life is depending on finding a donor match.
Franklin Square volunteer firefighter Chris Dand is battling a rare form of cancer, and his firehouse is trying to help save his life by finding a donor. He is a longtime member of the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department and helped at ground zero.
In 2018, he was diagnosed with a 9/11-related cancer. A year later, he received a lifesaving bone marrow transplant and was in remission until recently. Dand’s leukemia returned and is now in another fight for his life.
“Chris has given the last 25 years to our community, and he’s never asked for anything in return,” says Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department Chief Joe Gerrato.
Dand needs a stem cell donor to save his life, so the fire department hosted an event for people to swab their cheek and register to be his match.
The “Be the Match” event was held at the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department from 4 to 9 p.m.
“It’s moments of your time and it can give an opportunity to Chris or anyone else who has this illness to live again,” Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department Capt. James Deligio says.
Those who could not make it to the event can go to their website to get a swab kit mailed directly to them.
