First responders softball game to benefit hospital cancer fund.

Planning the event, from left: Joe Cooper, Scot Latimer, Fred Reader Jr.

First responders softball game to benefit hospital cancer fund.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — Local emergency service personnel are coming together to raise some funds for the Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital’s Cancer Service Center Patient Assistance Fund — and to have some fun.

The first responders will join up and form a couple teams on Saturday, May 19 beginning at 10 a.m. at Oriole Field.

“We wanted to find a way for us to come together in a fun way,” said Scot Latimer of Ludington Fire Department. “Typically, many of us from different departments are on the scene of an emergency and we really don’t have a chance to get to know each other. Some of us started talking about how we could build some camaraderie. In April, there’s the cops versus firefighters hockey game, which is a great event, but not everyone can play hockey. It’s a challenging and aggressive sport. That’s when it was suggested that we hold a softball game.”

The Smoke Eaters vs. Law Dogs hockey game will be held Saturday, April 28 at West Shore Community Ice Arena. It raises money for the Mason County Fire Relief Fund, which helps local residents who lose their home during a fire.

“After we started talking about the game, we decided that it would be great to raise some money and give it to a local organization,” said Fred Reader, Jr. of Pere Marquette Township Fire Department. “Everyone kept going back to the cancer fund. Just about everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, and we in the emergency services are very much aware of this because one of our own, Riverton Township Fire Chief Joe Cooper, has been fighting cancer for the past year. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

The hospital’s fund raises money to assist cancer patients to help local cancer patients offset medical expenses.

The tournament will include personnel from Mason County fire departments, law enforcement, and emergency medical services.

“We wanted to make this a Mason County event,” Reader said. “It’s important that the public know that we are united and work as a team.”

The tournament will include door prizes and refreshments. Any business or individual wishing to make a donation may do so by contacting Latimer at Pere Marquette Builders, 913 S. Washington Ave., Suite A, PO Box 460, Ludington, MI 49431, 231-398-7463 or email scot@buildPMB.com. They can also contact Reader via Facebook.

See event page here.