By FireRescue1 Staff
RALEIGH, N.C. — Colleagues are rallying to raise funds for one of their own who has been battling a rare degenerative bone disease.
Firefighter Scott Franks was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. He had undergone surgery to place steel rods in his back after blowing out several disks in his spine. Doctors said he will soon be unable to walk, reported ABC11.
Franks, a 23-year veteran, joined the Raleigh Fire Department as a volunteer when he was 18.
“You cannot do this job without wanting to help people,” Franks said.
Colleagues set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Franks’ medical expenses; over $18,000 has been raised. Battalion Chief Kevin Coppage, who started the page, said Franks didn’t think anyone cared to help.
“He [Franks] doesn’t like handouts and stuff like that so he looks at it as a blessing he’s been praying over a lot,” Chief Coppage said.