RANSOMVILLE, N.Y. — Imagine getting a cancer diagnosis and being told it's inoperable. That's the case for an EMT in Niagara County — but she's not fighting alone.

What You Need To Know

  • EMT Melissa Close Farmer was diagnosed with cervical cancer last fall

  • The cancer is inoperable

  • Her fellow first responders and the community are stepping up to help her through her battle

"I know she loves what she does; she enjoys her work, she likes helping people, helping the community," said John Record, EMS lieutenant for the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company.

Melissa Close Farmer is used to helping others as an EMT for Niagara Hospice and EMT/firefighter for the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company. But now she's the one receiving help. Last fall, the 33-year-old was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer that became inoperable.

"They went after that with chemo and then once they began to get a handle on that and shrink the tumor for that, they discovered that it spread to a few other places. She stopped immediately. She was the only one working at the time. Her husband had been hurt working previously, so it was a big blow to the both of them to not have any money coming in," Record said.

That's when her fellow first responders and the community stepped in. The members of the fire department took it upon themselves to raise hundreds of dollars for Melissa. They also made a GoFundMe page, which ultimately brought in more than $8,000.

"It made her feel better knowing that. It reminded her that we do miss her and that we are still thinking about her," Record said.

For the past decade, the John Fiore Foundation has hosted a yearly memorial golf tournament in honor of John Fiore, who died in the crash of Flight 3407. Along with the tournament, the foundation started having side raffles to benefit someone in the community. This year, Melissa is the recipient.

"My son is a firefighter, a volunteer with Ransomville, and he gave me Melissa's name, and we couldn't think of anyone more worthy to raise money for," said Diane Aughtmon, the secretary of the foundation.

The drawing for the side raffle will take place at this year's golf tournament on August 14 at the Willowbrook Golf Course in Lockport. Last year's raffle raised $11,000, and this year, they're hoping it's even more.

"We're just a very small little community here in Ransomville, but the biggest hearts that you could ever find," said Aughtmon.

Tickets for the raffle are $5 each and are available on the foundation website.

If you simply want to contribute to Melissa, Aughtmon says the foundation will make sure any donation gets to her. You can also drop donations off at the Ransomville fire hall on Youngstown Lockport Road from 6:30-7 p.m. on Thursday nights.