Gift baskets sought for spaghetti dinner benefitting New Ken firefighter battling cancer

Donations are being sought to stage a spaghetti dinner benefit for a New Kensington volunteer firefighter battling cancer.

The city’s fire department and the New Kensington Eagles are jointly sponsoring the benefit dinner for Chris Ploski on Jan. 8, Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Davis said.

Ploski, 59, a firefighter with the city’s No. 2 engine company in Parnassus, who is also active with the Eagles, was diagnosed in September with stage 4 small cell lung cancer. It has spread to the pituitary gland in his brain.

Although he works as a security guard, he has no health insurance and can’t be covered by the policy carried by his wife, Emily.

Asked if they have a goal for how much they want to raise for Ploski and his wife, Davis said, “The more the merrier, the way we look at it.

“We’re hoping to raise a good bit of money for them and help them out.”

Davis said the dinner will include auctions and raffles. The groups are seeking donations of gift baskets to be auctioned.

They will have food to-go, and Davis said they will be able to deliver for bigger orders.

Firefighters and Eagles members will be selling tickets in advance, which Davis said will be available within about a week. Those attending can also pay at the door.

An online fundraiser for Ploski at GoFundMe initially had an $8,000 goal, which it exceeded within four days. The campaign now has a $20,000 goal, and as of Tuesday had raised $10,340.

Davis said firefighters did a boot drive for Ploski at a recent banquet. He took the proceeds to Ploski on Sunday.

“He sounded good. He looked good,” Davis said. “He’s keeping his spirits up. He’s determined to fight this. He’s determined to fight the cancer and try to win it. Him and his wife both have very positive attitudes.”