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Benefit
in place for Milan fireman
Wanda English
Burnett
Editor
Firefighters are a tough lot. They are the first to go into a
burning building and are thought of as heroes.
A Milan firefighter has done all that. He has trained and donated
endless hours of service to the community he lives in and loves.
Now, he needs help from others.
Doug Laws was recently diagnosed with leukemia and is currently
awaiting a bone marrow transplant. He is married to Robin (Swinney)
Laws and is described as a devoted husband and father to their
two children, Allen, 13, and Annjeanette, 10, both students in
the Milan School Corporation.
Laws joined the Milan Volunteer Fire Department in January of
1994. He became a certified first responder in 2001. He has responded
to more than 150 runs in the past two years alone, helping his
community, family, friends, and neighbors when an emergency occurs.
He is employed with UPS as a driver, serving the Madison area.
His family attends The Cave Hill Church of God.
UPS driver Donnie Thompson, and a firefighter for the Aurora department,
saw a need and asked a few fellow firefighters if they agreed.
They did. The brotherhood of firefighters is strong and they realized
Laws family could use the extra money from a benefit and more
than that, the support it would show.
Firemen from many departments, including all of Ripley County
and some surrounding counties came together for an initial meeting
recently to plan a breakfast benefit for the Laws family.
The outpouring of support was tremendous as Thompson led the effort
with the food mainly being donated. The breakfast will consist
of pancakes, sausage, biscuits & gravy, and homemade coffee
cake with drink options. It will be held Sunday, May 23 from 7
a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Milan Fire Department. Parking will be available
at the high school with shuttle service provided.
Prizes have been pouring in with plans to also have a split
the pot the day of the event. For those who cant come
to the breakfast, but still want to donate, a Doug Laws Fund has
been set up at the Fifth Third Bank.
The community now has the opportunity to help a fireman, who is
known for his dedication to helping others.
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