VIDEO/PHOTOS: A long-time volunteer firefighter with the Richmond Carolina Fire District is currently battling cancer. His buddies, and the community, are rallying around him as he receives treatment at Rhode Island Hospital. Christopher Sherman, 43, who was born with down syndrome, knew something was wrong Memorial Day weekend. His sister, Ashley Sherman, said he had complained of severe stomach pains. โThey found the tumor then it was the size of a tangerine,” said Ashley. โNow itโs the size of a softball.โ Testing revealed Chris has lymphoblastic lymphoma, an aggressive and fast-moving form of cancer. โThe guys love him, we love him, he has the biggest heart, he loves everybody and he doesnโt deserve what heโs going through right now,” said Ashley. โItโs just not fair. But cancer is never fair to anybody.โ Christopher has been in the hospital for nearly three weeks receiving treatment.
News of his diagnosis hit the Richmond Carolina Fire District hard, as well as first responders throughout the community who are friends with him. โIt was like being kicked in the gut. It was really hard for us to accept and understand the challenges that heโs facing,” said the chief of the Richmond Carolina Fire District Scott Barber. โWeโre very family oriented. We have a lot of three-generation families and Christopher is actually part of that third generation. His grandfather was the chief, father was a former deputy chief and then you have his uncles, sister, brother. Heโs always been here, since a young boy heโs always been around the firehouse.โ
Christopher, like many of the other firefighter members, is a volunteer. He’s at every training and community event. “To know him is to love him,” according to his firefighter family. He’s even quite popular with the officers from the Richmond Police Department and is an active member of North Kingstown’s Special Olympics.
