Creston Fire Department firefighters are hosting a fundraiser for two Creston firefighters recovering from surgery.
Mick Landers, Creston assistant fire chief, was recently diagnosed with cancer. He is currently recovering from surgery and receiving treatment at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.
Landers has been a professional firefighter with Creston Fire Department since 1993 and has been assistant fire chief since 2000. He has been involved with fire service since 1984 and has been a member of Afton, Winterset, Fort Dodge and West Des Moines fire departments. Landers resides in Creston with his wife, Linda, and has two grown daughters, Amber and Jessica, and one son, Ben, who is a full-time student at Graceland University in Lamoni.
Adam Leith, part-time firefighter, was injured Oct. 24 while working on his farm north of Afton. He suffered a fractured lumbar vertebrae and is recuperating at home after surgery.
Leith started on Creston Fire Department in 2011 as a volunteer firefighter before recently moving to a part-time professional position within the department. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States Army and was honorably discharged and awarded the Combat Action Badge after being injured in three separate improvised explosive device incidents. Leith resides in Creston with his wife, Rhianna, and their two-year-old son, Hunter.
The free-will-donation fundraiser is open to the public and is slated for Saturday, Dec. 5, at Creston Elks Lodge. A smoked pork meal cooked by Burnt Reynolds BBQ will be from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. auction of donated items and firefighter labor by Darwin West, auctioneer with West and Frey Auctioneers. Music will be provided during dinner and after the auction by DJ Eric Shawler.
The purpose of the benefit is to help with various expenses Landers and Leith and their families will incur during their respective recoveries. All donations are tax deductible and can also be made through Creston Fire Department by contacting Lee Freeman at 641-782-5610.