Willowvale Fire Chief Wayne Smoulcey Facing Terminal Cancer

The fire chief of the Willowvale Fire Company, who is also an Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy, is batting a terminal form of cancer.

Wayne Smoulcey's batter with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia began seven years ago and it had gone into remission, but his friends and family say the Melanoma returned in 2017 and has spread to his lungs, adrenal glands and brain. He has just months to live.

A fundraising benefit for his family is planned for Sunday, March 31, 2019 from 1-5 p.m. at the Deerfield Firehouse. Smoulcey, 38, is a husband and father of a 3-year-old son, with a daughter on the way this summer. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the Maynard Fire Department (315-732-8181), or the Oneida County Sheriff's Office (315-765-2222).

Organizers say any donation for the Smoulcey family is appreciated and can be made through the Believe 271 Foundation Inc. (PO Box 480, 8530 Old Poland Road, Barneveld NY 13304). Be sure to note the donation is for Wayne Smoulcey on any check or money order.

Additionally, anyone looking to donate basket raffle items for the benefit is asked to call Jared Pearl at (315) 430-5769, or Jim Kuhn at (315) 794-6316.