North Shore Rescue aims to 'Rescue the rescuer' Jay Piggot after cancer diagnosis

North Shore Rescue is famous for saving lives, but now the volunteer organization israllying to help save one of its own.

Friends and colleagues of North Shore Rescue memberJay Piggot have started acrowdfunding campaigncalledRescue the Rescuerafter he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

The 34-year-old father of two works full-time hours with the B.C. Ambulance service but is classified as a part-time worker and therefore isn't eligible forsick time or health benefits.

PIggot was diagnosed last week withcholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancerthat attacks liver bile ducts. Histumour is large, and will need to be shrunk with chemotherapy before the surgery to removeit.

That means hecould be off work for a year or more during his cancer treatment.

The volunteer medic on the North ShoreRescue elite helicopter team says getting the cancer diagnosis was devastating, but he's thankful to have so much support.

"It's been a brotherhood," he said. "Now more than ever, it's meant more than ever to me."

Fellow North ShoreRescue member Curtis Jones describes Piggotas a man who puts others first.

"He embodies the motto of 'So that others may live,'"stated Jones. "Jay has risked his own life many times, so that complete strangers might live and be reunited with their families."

As of 8:00 a.m. Monday morning over $35,000 had been raised by the Rescue the Rescuer campaign.