New England Firefighters Fight for Life with DKMS Americas and Baby Giovanni Life saving matches so far: 3  Thank you Charissa and Saria for adding 300 life saving firefighters to the DKMS Bone Marrow Donor Center at the 2010 IAFF/MDA Softball Tournament. Scroll Down for Memorial Slide Show of Deputy Chief Brian Beeler Maine Firefighter/EMT’s Charissa Kerr and Sarai Paulmann have pledged to add 1000 firefighters to the registry before the end of 2009. Follow their adventures in the below slideshow:  Total donor: 1319 Congratulations to Charissa and Saria for adding over 1000 firefighters to the registry

DKMS Firefighters Meet Firefighter/EMTs Charissa and Sarai of Maine who are on a bone marrow crusade to add 1000 firefighters to the bone marrow registry in honor of Deputy Chief Brian Beeler whom passed recently from leukemia complications

Meet Firefighter/EMTs Charissa and Sarai of Maine who are on a bone marrow crusade to add 1000 firefighters to the bone marrow registry in honor of Deputy Chief Brian Beeler whom passed recently from leukemia complications

On behalf of Baby Giovanni and those needing a life saving match the Belmont, NH, firefighters sounded the first challenge to register as many firefighters as possible as life saving bone marrow donors.   Resently, third generation firefighter Steve Beeler of Middletown, Ct, initiated drives adding 100s of donors to save his dad. Unfortunately, Deputy Chief Brian Beeler of Maine lost his fight with leukemia. But Steve’s Berwick, ME, marrow drive located one life saving match and encouraged Charissa Kerr and Sarai Paulmann, both firefighter/EMTs in Maine, to launch a crusade to add 1000 new firefighters to the bone marrow registry.    Give the gift of life, become a bone marrow donor today. Please call us at 603-715-1318 to organize a bone marrow drive at your Fire Department or have a free self-test kit sent to you by cliking on the Become A Bone Marrow Botton on the left. If you’d like, we can even do a joint bone marrow drive and blood drive with the American Red Cross.  You can contact Charissa or Sarai below.  ***********Firefighter Ambassadors: Any firefighters or stations that would like to organize a drive please contact:  Charissa Kerr at rissakerr@yahoo.com or Sarai at Saraip317@yahoo.com Fire Departments that have held Bone Marrow Drives (See drive pictures below)

Deputy Chief Brian Beeler was a true public servant dedicatomg his life to the public service. From running into a burning buildings to mentoring children he did it with a smile and professionalism that was admired by many. His willingness and passion to help others will never be forgotten. And although we can never repay such a man for a lifetime of service we can honor his death by joining the bone marrow registry to prevent future untimely deaths of our loves ones and friends. PLease jopin the registry and save a life so that his death is not in vain.

Thank you Berwick Fire Department of Maine, the family and friends of Deputy Chief Brian Beeler, and the people of Maine and New Hampshire for adding 334 life saving donors to the bone marrow registry. This was the largest firefighter bone marrow drive Save Giovanni’s Friends with DKMS has ever held. Please continue adding life saving donors to the registry and protecting the community. The local fire fighters, fighting for their Deputy Chief, and friend, and mentor.

Deputy Chief Brian Beeler, diagnoised with Acute Leukemia in September. The Beeler Family (sons: Brian and Steve; wife: Janice) at the record breaking drive in Berwick, ME. The firefighters of Berwick, ME. outside of Deputy Chief’s home away from home, the Berwick Station. The local fire fighters, fighting for their Deputy Chief, and friend, and mentor. Son of Deputy Chief, Steve Beeler, with his fellow fire fighters in Middletown, CT. This department held a drive in support for Steve’s father. The flag overlooking Berwick, just as Deputy Chief Brian Beeler is doing now. The fire fighters march…The massive crowd following the ladder trucks to Deputy Chief Brian Beeler’s final resting place. Several different towns paid their respects.A brotherhoodA Hero’s Caisson. Reading the fire fighter’s prayer. The Beriwck Fire Department has lost an instrumental influence. The reading of the fire fighters prayer in front of the Berwick station with Mrs. Beeler front and center. A moment of silence. Taking Brian home. Firefighters in full gear outside the station during the memorial. The trucks, and station masked with black bunting. The arrival of Deputy Chief Brian Beeler to his final resting place. The Last Alarm.Folding the Flag for a Hero. Hundreds answer call to save Deputy Chief Brian Beeler WCSH News Center 6 Report on Deputy Chief Brian Beeler’s Bone Marrow Drive Laconia Citizen: Concern grows into crusade Thank you Belmont Firefighters and others for responding to the first challenge and adding 34-life saving donors to the international bone marrow registry. Special thanks to event organizer Gina E. Harris and volunteer Patty Coates.  Thank you for taking Giovanni and his brothers on thier first ride in a fire engine.

Giovanni and dad Michael. All the firefighters signed the fire helmet for Giovanni

Giovanni and Corey Pierce (left botton) an Ashland, NH, firefighter whose life saving bone marrow match was found by DKMS AmericasBaby Giovanni, mom, and brothers with hometown Belmont, NH, Firefighters who help first Save Giovanni’s Friends firefighter bone marrow driveGiovanni and dad Michael. All the firefighters signed the fire helmet for GiovanniFirefighter joining the registry: as simple as a cotton swabFirefighter donating blood at join Red Cross Blood Drive and Save Giovanni’s Friends with DKMS Americas bone marrow driveBedford, NH, firefighters who joined the bone marrow registryGilmanton, NH, firefighters who joined the bone marrow rejistryBone marrow recruiter Patty Coats with 18,000 donorBerlin, NH, firefighters who joined the bone marrow registryDonor joining the registry at Laconia, NH, Fire Department bone marrow driveBaby Giovanni with dad at New York City Leukemia event to raise money and save livesGiovanni and mom Middletown firefighters and friends of Steve Beeler supporting his quest to find his father a bone marrow match

Beeler Family at Biddeford Fire Department Bone Marrow DriveMiddletown, Ct, Fire Department adds 61 life saving donors to the registry in campaign to save Deputy Fire Chief Brian Beeler of Berwick. ME. The drive was organized by his son Steve Beeler following three generations of firefightersMiddletown firefighters and friends of Steve Beeler supporting his quest to find his father a bone marrow matchMiddletown Firefighter joins the bone marrow registry More firefightes joining the registryFirefighters filling out the simple 5 minute donor consent form before swipting the inside of their mouths with two cotton swabsTwo potential life saving donors swabbing the inside of their cheeks to join the life saving bone marrow registry. Middletown firefighter joining the registry. Middletown Connecticut Fire Department with Baby Giovanni bone marrow bannerBaby Giovanni’s father Michael talking with firefighters who just joined the registryConnecticut school teacher and friend of Steve Beeler joining the registry