Firefighters throughout the state are inviting people to attend the Light My Fire event to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma society.
The annual event follows the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb. Light My Fire will start at 6 p.m. March 30 at Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery in Seattle. Jackie of the Jackie and Bender morning show on 106.1 KISS FM is the host.
Silent and live auction winners donate directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. That means 100 percent of direct auction funds raised go to fight blood cancers. Last year’s benefit for LLS brought in more than $10,000.
Audra Daniels, Campaign Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Washington chapter, said fund-raising for the society is vital.
“This event is a really fun way to support the LLS. Each and every donation – no matter how large or small – is essential in helping to raise money to fund lifesaving research and support patients and their families,” Daniels said.
This year, Professional Union Firefighter is teaming up with Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, home of Fire Chief Ale, and the Firefighter’s Lifeline Foundation (FLF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to community education and easing the burden of those impacted by catastrophic loss and injury. FLF’s aim is to fund-raise with a high-quality wine that features photographs of local firefighters on each bottle.
Jackie said: “Hanging out with the firefighters at this event is a blast, and on top of all the fun you get the chance to win parties with the hot guys who won spots on wine labels and the Fire Chief Ale guy. For your tax-deductible donation to LLS you can also win help from firefighter yardwork crews, wine-tasting parties, and whitewater rafting trips in the live auction, and lots of silent auction items from hair care products and golf to cooking lessons and hotel stays.”
Firefighters from throughout the state volunteer their time to attend the event – and to be auctioned off for up to four hours of time.
“These firefighters are so amazing. Many of them dedicate themselves to the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, which this event traditionally follows – and then give even more of themselves for this auction,” said event coordinator Linda Kent of Professional Union Firefighter.
Those who want VIP treatment – including extra attention from firefighters, photos, free swag like growlers of Fire Chief Ale, wine packages, glassware to take home, T-shirts and more – can make an online donation of $20 or more to secure an individual seat. People also can buy a 6-person table in the VIP section for $100 on the event’s online donation page. There is no charge for general admission.
A free party for all attendees hosted by band 3rd Degree Burn starts immediately following the auction.
“We appreciate all the guests who come out and support this event,” Kent said, “and the party is an immediate — and really, really fun – way to say ‘thank you.’”
Everyone attending also can sign up for Rock Bottom Rewards and gain 10 percent off the evening’s purchases from the venue. Rock Bottom also will donate $2 to LLS each time a guest purchases a pint of Fire Chief Ale during the event.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since 1949, the Society has invested more than $550.8 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers.
Kent said there’s still time for people and businesses in the community to support the event by volunteering to help with Light My Fire and by donating auction items.
