APD to hold ‘Heroes for Heroes’ to raise funds for local firefighter
On Dec. 4, the Amarillo Police Department plans to host a “Heroes for Heroes” fundraising event for local firefighter Dory Mogelinski at the Randall County Event Center.
According to the APD, all proceeds from this event will go to a fund to help Mogelinski's battle with cancer. The event will feature a hamburger cookout for $7 and a silent auction to raise money.
Mogelinski, a firefighter of 25 years, was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in October and recently began undergoing an extensive chemotherapy regime that is both mentally and physically taxing. On top of those contributing factors, the cost of chemotherapy can be crippling financially for families that have to go through the process.
According to a study published by Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, the average cost for the first two years of health care in treating oropharyngeal cancer in Texas is $139,000.
Michael Mogelinski, a veteran Amarillo police officer and Dory's brother, spoke about the event and the impact it could have on helping his brother and his family in their time of need.
“I know that some friends of mine raised about $700 for him and that amount paid for about one-half of one doctor’s visit for him,” Mogelinski said. "It is ridiculous the amount that everything costs for this. This whole situation has been difficult on the family.
“So far, he is handling the treatment very well but is in a lot of pain and has difficulty in swallowing. The family is doing their best to help diminish his pain so that he can eat and drink.”
Both Michael and Dory have stated that the doctors have said Dory has around a 90% chance of survival rate from this type of cancer.
“Dory is one of those that you always want in your corner when the chips are down," Mogelinski said of his brother. "He will do anything he can to help anyone that he could.”
From multiple sources, the most common description for Dory from his peers was that he was a fireman’s fireman.
Mogelinski spoke about how nobody goes into being a firefighter for the money and that wanting to serve the public as a firefighter was always his brother’s ambition.
“I just do not want him and his family to be in debt for the rest of his life because he had the misfortune of getting cancer,” Mogelinski said.
According to Jeff Justus, Amarillo Fire Department liaison, those who cannot make it to the event can donate to the Dory Mogelinski benefit account at Amarillo National Bank.
“We just want to help our brother in arms and we want the community to pray for Dory’s recovery," Justus said.
The “Heroes for Heroes” event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Randall County Event Center, 111 E. Loop 335 South.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: ‘Heroes for Heroes’ to raise funds for local firefighter battling cancer
