Brownwood Professional Firefighters Association presented gifts of $1300 cash each on Thursday morning to two local women who are battling cancer.

BFD firefighters Bryan Harvey and Joe Stieber presented the gifts to Gloria McDougal of Early and Judy McDaniel of Brownwood.  Harvey and Stieber told the ladies the money was to be put toward any of their needs, to help offset the financial burden the disease can often cause.

The funds for the gifts were raised by the BPFFA in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Firefighters sold approximately 300 pink t-shirts which stated, “Help Brownwood Fire Department Extinguish Cancer” and “We Support, Do You?”  The shirts also featured a pink ribbon, symbolic of the cancer awareness effort.  The BPFFA took nominations from their members of cancer patients to help with the funds and then basically chose the two by drawing out of a hat.

Gloria McDougal was presented a check at her home in Early, at Care Nursing and Rehab.  McDougal was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of this year.  She has been undergoing treatment but is still battling the disease.   Having diabetes has limited her treatment options.

Judy McDaniel was diagnosed in October of 2011 with lung cancer which has since metastasized into her kidney and brain, but she won’t give in to the disease.

“I have a new grandson that was born in May, and I have to live to see him grow up,” said McDaniel.

McDaniel spoke of her diagnosis, stating that she had a chronic cough and had put off going to the doctor because she was too busy taking care of her ill husband who passed away in September.  She said that after his death, she finally went to the doctor, expecting to have bronchitis, but was given the news that she had a stage 3 tumor in her lung.  McDaniel has undergone chemo and radiation and now has been told that the tumors have stabilized, and will undergo a scan in December to determine her treatment plan after that.  She stated that she is treated at the Walker Cancer Center in Brownwood and has found the staff to be wonderful and like a family.

“It’s been a long road, but I’m going to beat this,” said McDaniel as she explained she has a birthday to celebrate on Saturday and lots of hope.  “I appreciate the Brownwood Fire Department; they really don’t know how much this is going to help me.”

Harvey stated that the BPFFA plans to make the shirt an annual campaign to raise funds for local cancer patients and that he hopes next year will be even more successful and that they can help a larger number of patients.

Pictured top left are:  Joe Stieber, Judy McDaniel and Bryan Harvey.  Pictured top right are Harvey and Gloria McDaniel.