WESTLOCK — Town of Westlock firefighter Brad Watson joined his fellow firefighters in helping local families in need this Christmas when he took to the sky Dec. 10 for the final day of the annual Firefighter In the Sky fundraiser.
Over the past three weeks, firefighters were on location at Westlock Sobeys and Engels Your Independent Grocer collecting cash, clothing and food donations for the Westlock Food Bank, Coats For Kids program and the Christmas Spirit program. Altogether, they collected 1,734.9 pounds of food donations and $1,382 in cash donations, prior to Dec. 10 and on the final day collected 914.8 pounds of food, $1,885 and a $25 gift card for a grand total of 3,018.7 pounds of food and $3,801.60 in cash.
As has been the case every year, the Firefighter In the Sky stays up in Tower 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until an additional $1,000 or 1,000 pounds of food are collected that day.
“The community support’s been unreal. Everybody knows the need is there and every little bit helps,” said Watson. “It’s for our community.”
This year, Watson stepped into the role after helping former Firefighter in the Sky, Capt. Brian Hegedus, for the past few years. (Hegedus retired from firefighting in the fall.)
“I helped prior to that and I helped him out with Tower 1 last year and he basically asked me if I wanted to take it over. I was more than gracious to take it over from him.”
For the most part, Mother Nature cooperated over the past few weeks, including the final day of the fundraiser on Sunday. There was no snow and only milder temperatures, along with a mix of sun, clouds and blue sky.
Watson noted how cold the event had been in previous years.
“Last year when we did it, the weather was a little cold,” he said. “It was a little tough on the tower last year, being up that high and hydraulics freezing.”
A firefighter with the department for about six years, Watson said it was an honour for him to be a part of the annual fundraiser.
"It’s like a legacy that (Hegedus) started and I want to keep it going for as long as I can,” said Watson.
The annual event has collected considerable amounts in past years as well including $2,899 and 2,033 pounds of food in 2016, $2,501 and 2,940 pounds of food in 2017, $2606 and 2,307 in 2018, $3,981 and 4,808 pounds of food in 2019, with the event skipping a year in 2020, and $3,571 and 3,558 pounds of food in 2021.
