The wife of a fallen local firefighter donated resources that will help other firefighters prevent cancer.
The Carney Strong Initiative donated several supplies to Midway Fire Rescue on Sunday, including skin cleansing wipes, charcoal soap and supplements that help cleanse the body of carcinogenic toxins, and cleaning agents that eliminate carcinogens from firefighters’ gear and equipment.
Lillian Carney started the Carney Strong Initiative after her husband, Josh Carney, who was a Midway Battalion Chief, died from cancer more than a year ago. She said she’s certain her husband would still be alive today had he taken proper precautions and used some of the products donated.
“I want to be the wife that reminds them often so that in 30 years and in 40 years they can grow old with their spouse, and they can watch their child graduate and they can watch their child get married and have kids,” she said.
Through the Carney Strong Initiative, Carney has donated these same supplies to five other fire departments across the country, including one in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Carney Strong plans to continue to donate these tools to one small, rural, or volunteer fire department each month.
“I don’t want another family to have to go through what we went through. I wanted to help somebody else. That was the initial thought. Let’s help somebody else because we didn’t know this back then,” said Kristine Munck, Josh Carney’s cousin.
If you would like to support the Carney Strong Initiative or learn more, click here.
