Excerpts from patch.com: Volunteers from numerous suburban fire departments joined forces as part of the Lights and Ladders Brigade, with Project Fire Buddies playing a key role in transforming the Lockport home of Vinnie Gincauskas, a 15-year-old boy currently fighting a rare form of cancer. The crews arrived with holiday spirit, played some festive music, and immediately got to work on their assigned tasks. Vinnie was diagnosed with DSRCT—desmoplastic small round cell tumors—in March. This is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that develops in the body’s connective tissues. He recently underwent major surgery to remove nearly 100 tumors from his abdomen, following an earlier operation that removed more tumors and a lymph node from his chest. Since then, Vinnie has been supported by Project Fire Buddies, a nonprofit initiative started in 2016 in Oak Forest. Run entirely by local firefighters, the group aims to bring hope and joy to children battling serious illnesses. The program has grown rapidly and now includes over 30 departments across the south suburbs, including Oak Lawn, Palos, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Lockport, and many others. Vinnie expressed deep gratitude for the support he and his family received. “Thank you so much—it really means a lot to me and my family,†he said, reflecting on the efforts of the volunteers. This particular visit was the second stop on a five-house route for the brigade. This year, the team managed to decorate 13 homes. Fire departments from across the region participated, including Oak Lawn, Chicago, Posen, Flossmor, Country Club Hills, Lockport, Orland Park, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Tinley Park, Aurora, Chicago Heights, Cicero, Manhattan, New Lenox, Frankfort, and McHenry Township. Project Fire Buddies collaborated with the Lights and Ladders Brigade, which is under the Finley Forever Foundation. This initiative brings together several organizations—including The Tom Hopkins Foundation, Christmas without Cancer, and Finley Forever—to spread holiday cheer and raise funds for families affected by cancer. All decorations are donated and remain with the families, with nearly $15,000 spent this year on festive items. Here are some photos of the decorated homes: House decorated by firefighters with Project Fire Buddies House decorated by firefighters with Project Fire Buddies Gearbox for Single Screw Extruder Gearbox For Single Screw Extruder,Zlyj Vertical And Gearbox,Zlyj Extruder Gearbox,Single Screw Extruder Gearbox ZHOUSHAN BATTEN IMPORT AND EXPORT CO.,LTD. , https://www.battenscrew.com
July 03, 2025