Nov 20, 2014 3 min read

For more than two decades, Mark Husak has been on the front lines battling fires and helping crash victims in East Bethlehem Township and the surrounding communities.

Now, his fellow firefighters are asking the community to help Husak in his battle with cancer. A spaghetti dinner fundraiser to help offset the increasing bills for medical and home expenses is being held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Richeyville Volunteer Fire Department off Route 40 in Richeyville.

In June, Husak was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Later that week, he was told that he had a 100 percent blockage in the lower right chamber of his heart. Attempts to clear the blockage failed. Cancer treatments have started.

Husak has been an active member of East Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Company for 25 years. Among the positions he held over the years are president, committee chair and chief engineer.

“He has done so much for this department,” said Mark Giovanelli, the company’s first assistant chief and vice president. “He continues to do what he can. In fact, he just wrote a grant for us a few weeks ago.”

Husak, a dispatcher at Washington County’s 911 center for more than 20 years, has not been able to work since June. Husak is the father of four children. He and his wife, Becky, also adopted a boy who is now 3. They also were foster parents to more than three dozen foster children.

East Bethlehem firefighters joined with mutual aid departments including Richeyville, Denbo-Vesta 6 and Marianna to put together the fundraiser.

There will also be a Chinese auction and 50/50 drawings. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

“It doesn’t happen often, but when it affects one of our own we come together,” Giovanelli said. “And what he has done has carried on that enables us to provide better service, not only for us but our mutual aid departments.”

Giovanelli said both Richeyville and Denbo-Vesta 6 offered their social halls for the event. He said organizers are hoping for a large crowd.

“Our social hall is just too small,” Giovanelli said. “We will have food to feed 1,200 to 1,300 people.”

“He has helped us and our community for years,” Giovanelli said of Husak. “His heart has truly been in it, and he has always done it for the right reason without looking for anything in return.”

Donations can also be sent to the East Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Company, care of Mark Husak, P.O. Box 445, Fredericktown, PA 15333. Husak’s name should be put in the memo line on checks.