BECKLEY, W.Va. — Sophia Fire Chief Jeff Pittman has gone above and beyond the call of duty to help others. Now, he needs some help himself.
Pittman, a paramedic and chief of Raleigh County Crisis Team, is in need of a liver transplant. His diabetes caused his liver to fail in July 2016.
The Raleigh County Crisis Team will host a fundraiser Monday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the IHOP in Beckley to raise money for Pittman in order to pay for his medical bills.
“I think it’s just time that the community rallies around him,” said Chaplain Craig Dorsey with the Crisis Team.
Dorsey said he’s been working with Pittman since 1981.
“Jeff is a caring person. He’s kindly stern, but fair,” he said. “He’s got a caring, giving nature.”
Pittman lost a toe on his right foot due to gangrene, Dorsey said. Pittman recently finished his long-term care at St. Francis Medical Center in Charleston and is now waiting for a liver transplant.
Monday’s fundraiser at IHOP will also include a pancake eating contest.
“What we’re doing is a pancake eating contest — whether that be fire, EMS, police — they give us a donation and we’re going to see hoe many pancakes they can eat,” Dorsey explained.
Dorsey said paramedics typically take care of others and that they’re not the ones being taken care of.
“They’re used to giving, but they’re not used to taking on the receiving end, so it’s kind of hard to step back and let other people help you,” he said.
The Crisis Team has held several fundraisers for Pittman over the last year. Dorsey said the goal is to raise $30,000.
“We’re raising this for medicine after the transplant, travel expenses, help with medical bills and stuff like that,” he said.
Anyone interested in donating can attend the event or call (304) 573-8183 for further information.