Lexington Herald-Leader
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Firefighters will hit the court during Thursday night’s University of Kentucky men’s basketball game, but they won’t be putting out a blaze.
Instead, the Lexington Fire Department is showing support for and raising awareness about Lexington firefighter Matt Logsdon, who learned last month that he had stage four cancer.
The 10-year veteran and father of three is receiving treatment in Chicago, firefighter Kyle Branham said. Meanwhile, Logsdon’s colleagues will be in fire helmets and custom shirts emblazoned with #TeamLogsdon as they play a game during halftime of the Kentucky-Tennessee rematch.
UK Athletics contacted the department earlier in the week, offering the court and jerseys from Nike, Branham said.
One firefighter might have a home court advantage. Nastassia Alcius, a paramedic with the department since 2012, is a former UK women’s basketball player.
Alcius said when she joined the force, she didn’t understand what the job would entail. She said she has learned firsthand that firefighters work to support each other the same way a basketball does.
“It’s a team; we do things as a team,” Alcius said. “Four years later it’s still the same concept.”
As with other teams, Alcius said, there has been some trash talk among players about who can do what on the court.
“I’m no spring chicken like I used to be, but I still got a little bounce,” she said.
Branham said the goal of the game is to show Logsdon that Lexington and the fire department are on his team.
When the pair talked Wednesday night, Logsdon told Branham the support he has received from the community made everything he’s dealing with a little easier.
“It’s hard for him to have a bad day,” he said.
Those wishing to show their support to Logsdon and his family can visit his GoFundMe page or follow #TeamLogdson on social media. A Facebook page called Matt Logsdon’s Cancer Battle Page also has been created.
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