By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
SYLVANIA — The Toledo Firefighters and Wood County Fraternal Order of Police will take to the ice for a hockey game with proceeds to benefit Troy Bernhard, a 28-year veteran firefighter and paramedic with Perrysburg Township.
The hockey benefit game will be played Saturday, September 7 at 6 p.m. at Tam-O-Shanter in Sylvania.
Bernhard has been battling bladder cancer off and on for over three years, so the Perrysburg Fire Department is looking to help the Bernhard family. His most aggressive treatments have been in the last eight months.
Longtime friend and Perrysburg Township Fire Inspector Keith Feeney is the event coordinator for the first annual hockey game.
“We’ve been involved because of Troy being one of us and being a member of Perrysburg Township,” Feeney said. “It’s a rare, rare form of cancer, and we were looking to help in some way. They have been doing experimental chemotherapy on him and the whole nine yards.
“So the game and fundraising are something to help his family out. His wife used to be a dispatcher with Perrysburg Township, then she became a police officer, and now a resource officer, so we will do anything to help her out,” continued Feeney.
Feeney believes this is a great way for the community to get involved and show Bernhard he is not alone in this fight but has an army of supporters behind him.
“Many of us firefighters and EMS providers do everything we can to help people in our community, and we may or may not know them,” Feeney said.
“This is an opportunity for the community, who may or may not know Troy, to come and help him.” This is a wonderful time for fans of all first responders to come and watch a hockey game between a couple of teams that still enjoy the chance to lace up the skates for a great cause.”
Feeney says donations are already flowing before the puck even drops, but organizers expect that to pick up when it becomes game time.
“People coming into the game there will be a donation table asking for five to ten bucks, which is what usually people have on them,” Feeney said.
“You say donations, and they kind of throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at you. Miguel Castillo is with the Legion post and their Legion has donated to the local 92 in Troy’s name.
“I’m part of the Sons of the American Legion. I’ve hit our post, and I’ll be hitting up the Sons for donations to help pay for the shirts, the ice, and the referees,” Feeney continued. “It’s just pretty much just getting with people. We’ve got several letters out now through our social media.
“(Perrysburg Township Fire Department/EMS) Mike Thompson has been pretty good at putting things up. So it is just kind of word of mouth spreading the news of the game,” continued Feeney.
There will be a meeting held at the Dirty Bird in downtown Toledo on August 19, at 6 p.m. to discuss the final preparations for the hockey game. For information, contact Feeney at 419-276-4768
