Firefighters Rally Around One Of Own Fighting For His Life

PLANT CITY, FL – Tampa Bay firefighters are rallying around one of their own who is now fighting for his life after spending his career fighting for others.

Plant City firefighter/paramedic Jimmy Riley of Wesley Chapel was diagnosed in March with gioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.

Recent medical advances are giving his wife, Kimberly Lowe Riley, and their 7-year-old daughter, Alyssa, hope.

However, the treatment is expected to be long and expensive. To help out, Riley’s fellow firefighters are organizing fundraisers to offset his medical expenses and ease the burden on the family while Riley undergoes treatment.

According to Kimberly Riley, her husband, 37, a former Marine and a Plant City firefighter for 14 years, went to the emergency room in March because he’d been having severe headaches. Since it was pollen season, Riley figured they were most likely caused by a sinus infection.

"He just kept having these headaches that he couldn't seem to get rid of," said longtime friend Vince Kiffner, a battalion chief at Plant City Fire Rescue.

The true cause of the headache shocked Riley’s friends and family.

“As you can imagine, this news has been heartbreaking and overwhelming for us,” said Kimberly Riley. “Jimmy is not only an amazing husband and father, he is my better half and reason I enjoy this beautiful life to the fullest.”

She said the news has been especially difficult for their young daughter whose “little heart tries to process what is happening.”

“Jimmy is strong. He is the hero of our family, and we are believing in a miracle,” said Kimberly Riley from Florida Hospital Tampa where doctors performed surgery last week to remove her husband’s tumor. Kimberly Riley works as an emergency nurse at the hospital.

She said the surgery went well and they are hopeful.

“He is recovering amazingly,” she said. “I couldn’t be more happy with the team of doctors and nurses we have been given at Florida Hospital Tampa.”

Doctors are still conducting tests to determine whether the cancer has spread. The next step, said Kiffner, is rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

Kimberly Riley said she’s been overwhelmed by the support from the community, her co-workers at the hospital and Riley’s fellow firefighters throughout Tampa Bay.

“I could not ask for a better support system,” she said.

"Firefighters are a family, and we'd do anything for our family," said Kiffner. "I've known Jimmy for 14 years, and I know he'd do the same for any of us. He's the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back."

The first fundraiser, a car wash benefit, has been organized by Plant City Fire Rescue. It will take place Aprill 22 at the Walden Lake Car Wash, 1414 S. Alexander St., Plant City, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers will wash cars and collect donations for Riley's medical fund. In addition to the car wash, the event will include a barbecue with all proceeds going to Riley.

A second fundraiser is being organized by the Krewe of St. Florian, a service organization named for the patron saint of firefighters and made up of about 80 firefighters from throughout Tampa Bay. On May 19, the krewe will host a benefit for Riley at The Bad Monkey Ybor, 1717 E. 7th Ave., in Ybor City. The event will include food and drink specials, raffles and a silent auction.

The next event, organized by Hillsborough County and Hernando County fire rescues, is a benefit golf tournament scheduled for June 16 at the Northdale Golf and Tennis Club, 4417 Northdale Blvd., Tampa. Golfers can register for the Team Riley Strong Golf Tournament on the tournament website.

A website called Jimmy’s Fight has been set up as well where supporters can make donations.

Images via Riley family