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ABOUT US

OUR GOAL IS TO

ASSIST FIREFIGHTERS IN

 ILLINOIS BATTLING CANCER

BUDDA'S BROTHERHOOD FOUNDATION

Budda’s Brotherhood Foundation was formed in memory of Marco “Budda” Ordaz. Marco was a Firefighter/Medic for the North Aurora, Illinois Fire Protection District. On February 6, 2006, at the age of 26, Marco was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). On January 25, 2008, after fighting a two year courageous battle, Marco lost his life due to complications from a stem cell transplant. He was 29 years old and in complete remission.

 

Due to Marco being unable to work and the high cost of medical and travel expenses, Marco and his wife Tricia experienced first hand what it was like to fight this horrible disease and then suffer financial hardship. However, they were blessed to have the North Aurora Fire District, friends, family and a community rally around them with love and support. From this showing, Marco had another dream; he wanted to set up a foundation that would assist other firefighters stricken with cancer and in financial need.  Marco was not able to fulfill his last dream, therefore his wife, Tricia, developed the Foundation in his memory.

 

Budda’s Brotherhood is a fitting foundation to a man who dedicated his life to helping others. This Foundation will keep Marco’s dream alive and support the men and women who put their lives on the line everyday and whom Marco called “Brother”.

2X GREATER CHANCE

TO GET MESOTHELIOMA1

40% MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOPE SKIN CANCER2

30% MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOPE MALIGNANT MELENOMA, PROSTATE, BRAIN and RECTAL CANCER3

As you can see from the graphs above firefighters are at a much higher risk of cancer than the rest of the public.The cancers listed are just a few of the cancers the men and woman firefighters saving our homes, saving our memories, saving our LIVES, are at risk for.

 

Research is just starting to understand the relationship between fighting fires and cancer.

 

New research is looking at not only the relaltionship of cancer and our fire personel while they are on scene but even after they have left and are back at the fire house.

 

The video to the left is from channel 2 news in Chicago. It talks about the firefighters exposure to chemicals not only while fighting a fire but long after the battle has been won, please watch it.

 

 

 

Below you can read some of the research:

 

1. NIOSH Study of Firefighters Finds Increased Rates of Cancer

 

2. & 3. Fighting Fires. Fighting Cancer.

THE HARD TRUTH

Listen below to a podcast that we did with Lou Vicelli & W.S. Darley Company that further explains our story.

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