By FireRescue1 Staff
DUNLAP, Ill. — A firefighter worked for months to create a special holiday light show at his house in the hopes of raising money for his co-worker who is battling cancer.
Central Illinois Proud reported that Peoria Fire Department firefighter Mike Gawelek spent three months perfecting each detail of the “Gawelek Christmas Light Show.”
“Pretty much every night after the kids go to bed I’m down in my little workshop,” Gawelek said.
The goal of the show is not only to spread holiday cheer, but to help his colleague, Nick Riordan, who is battling cancer.
“These brothers and sisters on the fire department, they aren’t co-workers anymore, they’re just family,” Riordan’s wife, Sarah, said.
A donation box stands outside the display, in the hopes that those who come to see the show will give what they can to help the Riordan family.
“We’ve all got each other’s backs. It’s kind of like when we’re in a house fire, we would expect the guy next to us to help us if we needed it,” Gawelek said.
A GoFundMe has also been created for the Riordan family.
https://www.facebook.com/gaweleklightshow/videos/134792210562094/