Plymouth Fire Buddies names Claire first family in new chapter
Plymouth fire now has an official Project Fire Buddies chapter, making Plymouth the first location in North Central Indiana to join the national nonprofit. The chapter introduced 8-year-old Claire as its first Buddy Family after her diagnosis last fall with DIPG, a rare and terminal brain tumor.
Project Fire Buddies pairs firefighters with children battling serious or terminal illnesses. Aaron Wagers, the Plymouth Fire Buddies Board President, said, "It's a great organization that just brings joy to children's life."
Claire and Plymouth Fire Department
Adam Baer, the Plymouth Project Fire Buddies Liaison Manager, said Claire's family already has a long connection to the department. He said Claire's grandfather retired after more than 20 years of service with the Plymouth fire department.
Baer said, "Claire's family has a lot of history not only here in Plymouth, but also with the Plymouth fire department her grandfather retired after Kindly want to say over 20 years of service". That family link placed Claire at the center of the new chapter's first local pairing.
Project Fire Buddies reaches Plymouth
The nonprofit said it has more than 165 chapters, and Plymouth is now the first in North Central Indiana. Firefighters in each area are matched with a fire buddy, then stay involved through gifts, experiences, vacations, and support for treatment options that may be outside a family's capacity.
Wagers said the group brought him back to his own childhood. He said, "So, this organization really hits me as a kid. As a young kid, my older brother had a terminal brain tumor on his brain stem. And we went through a whole make-a-wish program".
June 13 at South Bend Cubs
The Plymouth Fire Buddies chapter will send Claire's entire family and friends to the South Bend Cubs game on June 13 for cancer awareness night. For a family already navigating a diagnosis with an average prognosis doctors place at 12 months, the first chapter event gives the new local network an immediate assignment: show up, stay involved, and keep the support centered on Claire.
Wagers said the aim is simple. "It's a great organization that just brings joy to children's life."
