Steinbach rallies around dying volunteer firefighter

Friends hope to raise $20,000 to help a volunteer firefighter in Steinbach dying of brain cancer.

Dale Wiebe has incurable brain cancer.

A few weeks ago, doctors put the 39-year-old on palliative care. That's when friends jumped in and started a GoFundMe campaign to help Wiebe and his wife Jenean cover any unexpected costs.

So far, the campaign has raised nearly $4,000.

"It's a little overwhelming, in a good way," Janean said.

"Just to know that there are people out there that are willing to step in and help regardless of how well they know us or how well we know them."

Before being diagnosed in 2008, Wiebe worked in a car repair shop and had volunteered for the local fire department for 15 years.

Doctors gave a 95 per cent chance his cancer would be cured.

Surgery, chemotheraphy and radiation followed. Today Wiebe has difficulty speaking and uses a walker to help get around.

Janean, meanwhile, recently quit her job as a health aide to stay at home with her husband full time.

Despite his physical limitations, Wiebe is still the same guy she married, Janean said.

"His attitude [hasn't changed]through the whole experience. He just keeps on going day to day it seems like nothing else has been affected, his mood, his spirits. He still has a twinkle in his eye."

Before being diagnosed, Wiebe was a longtime volunteer firefighter in the southeastern Manitoba city.

Wiebe's illness has hit the first responders hard, said assistant fire chief Mike Penner, who is also a close friend.

"It's hard to see a close friend be affected by cancer," he said.

Penner praised Wiebe as a go-to guy whom everybody relied on at the fire station.