PEARISBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Timmy Ratcliffe has been looking out for his Giles County neighbors for more than three decades as a Pearisburg volunteer firefighter and even longer as a kind neighbor.
Ratcliffe is battling both prostate and stage four bone cancer, and now it’s the community’s turn to look out for him.
“This has been very overwhelming to him,” said Ratcliffe’s daughter, Miranda Jensen. “Him and my stepmom, they’re humble people. They don’t ask for anything. They’re normally the ones that help people. This has been amazing for them to see.”
Jensen worked with neighbors and friends to pull together a fundraising event for her father on Saturday at Angles Rest Baptist Fellowship, selling baked goods and hot dogs and auctioning off products donated by local businesses.
The five-hour event began at 11 a.m., but had already drawn a crowd of people anxious to help out by 10:45.
“When something bad happens to someone here, everyone comes together and helps out,” said Jensen.
In keeping with Ratcliffe’s own serving spirit, the fundraiser still found a way to give back.
The event partnered with the Blood Connection, which donated $10 to the family for every blood donation given on-site.
In total, the community raised $10,400 for Ratcliffe and his family.
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