FoundationAnnualReport2022

Tim Eckert knew he wanted to be a firefighter from a young age. His father, Ronald, an assistant fire chief in Sugar Creek, Ohio, inspired Tim to become a volunteer firefighter in his hometown when he was just 18 years old. Tim moved to the Sandusky area in 2002 to accept a job as a firefighter at Cedar Point. A year later, he joined the Sandusky Fire Department (SFD), a job he held for the next 20 years. As a long-time firefighter, Tim knew he was at a higher risk for cancer because of his occupation. “Multiple studies have shown that firefighters are at an increased risk for cancer due to the smoke and hazardous chemicals we’re exposed to on the job. I knew about the risks, but I didn’t think it would happen to me,” says Tim. That all changed in June of 2022 when Tim noticed a bulge on his abdomen while exercising. “I had also been feeling very nauseous, so I decided to make an appointment with my primary care doctor, Dr. Brian Baxter. After undergoing a CT scan, 15