Firefighter Battling Cancer; Has Super Bowl On Bucket List

VALHALLA, NY — A local volunteer firefighter has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and friends are trying to raise funds to make one of his dreams come true. Bill Duggan, otherwise known as Fire Chief Bill, has a trip to the Super Bowl on his bucket list.

A GoFundMe fundraising page — Bill’s Bucket List — has been set up to collect donations. In three days, more than $1,800 has been raised. The goal is $10,000.

Duggan, a Mount Kisco resident, was assistant volunteer fire chief in 2002-03 and volunteer fire chief in 2004-05 in Valhalla.

He was also with Tarrytown’s Hope Hose Co. No. 1.

Michael Chillemi, who with friends set up the fundraising page, Duggan is going in for his first chemo treatments Wednesday.

“Bill is my father’s best friend and a close friend to us all,” Chillemi said, adding they have been playing in the same fantasy sports leagues for a decade.

From the Bill’s Bucket List page:

Bill will be receiving treatment and fighting day in and day out. Bill is one of the strongest, kindest and most genuine people you will ever meet. It has been a lifelong dream of his to go to a Super Bowl and we are asking for your help to make that dream a reality. Although he is a Patriots fan, we still want to help him cross this amazing adventure off of his bucket list. … Please reach out and send your love. If there’s ever a time he needs it, it’s now.”

The Bill’s Bucket List GoFundMe fundraising page can be found here.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly said Duggan was a member of Consolidated Engine Company. It was Hope Hose. Patch regrets the error.

Photo caption: Bill Duggan with grandson. Photo credit: Courtesy.