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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The dangers of working as a first responder continue long after they&#8217;ve left the scene of an incident.</p><p>Exposure to hazardous substances on the job can cause acute or long-term illnesses, such as cancer, especially for firefighters who regularly enter buildings filled with toxic fumes from burning materials.</p><p>Hazleton Deputy Fire Chief Gabriel A. Mhley lost his four-year battle with cancer in 2003 at age 47. Those who loved him gathered at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center Sunday for an annual fundraiser to honor his memory, and to raise money for first responders facing similar struggles.</p><p>&#8220;What we do is provide financial assistance to firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical service personal that are battling cancer,&#8221; said Mhley&#8217;s nephew, Keith Mhley, who serves as vice president of nonprofit organization Foundation 58.</p><p>The group hoped to raise about $20,000 on Sunday from its signature annual fundraiser, &#8220;Bowling for the Brave.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;In the beginning, we&#8217;ve had as few as 14 teams here bowling,&#8221; Mhely said. &#8220;Now, 13 years later, we have 30 teams bowling and probably about 230 to 240 bowlers today.&#8221;</p><p>Named in honor of Gabe Mhley&#8217;s badge number, the foundation was created after his death by Keith Mhley and the deputy chief&#8217;s son, Justin Mhley. Since its inception in 2005, the group has given $100,000 to first responders in need, Keith Mhley said.</p><p>Their generosity will help Foundation 58 contribute to what is an unfortunately growing need.</p><p>A 2010 study from the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found higher rates of cancer in firefighters than in the rest of the population, and the International Association of Firefighters reports that cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters.</p><p>Even now that dangerous materials like asbestos are off the market, other synthetic substances can give off toxic fumes when burned, so every fire scene is not just a source of immediate danger, but long-term health hazards.</p><p>And, as noted, those health hazards are costly.</p><p>&#8220;With firefighters specifically, some are career and some are volunteer, so not all first responders have great health insurance,&#8221; Mhley explained.</p><p>&#8220;One of the big costs we help out with are some experimental treatments or even regular treatments that aren&#8217;t covered by the insurance,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Other than that, it could be for travel. There aren&#8217;t major cancer centers everywhere, so a lot of recipients use it for travel costs.&#8221;</p><p>Foundation 58 give grants for up to $5,000 to first repsonders with cancer, based on need. Applications and more information can be found on its website, <a href="http://www.foundation58.org/index.html" target="_blank">Foundation58.org</a>.</p><p>Justin Zoshka, vice president of the Hazle Township Fire and Rescue Company, came out with members of his company to bowl.</p><p>&#8220;Foundation 58 has many events, but this is one that we sponsor yearly,&#8221; Zoshka said.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just something that we&#8217;re very proud of. It&#8217;s a great cause and we&#8217;ve had some members receive donations from Foundation 58, so we&#8217;re very supportive and thankful for it,&#8221; Zoshka added. We&#8217;re glad that it&#8217;s doing well and hope that it continues to excel.&#8221;</p><p>Retired Scranton firefighter Dave Gervasi also was among the bowlers.</p><p>&#8220;This event is great. It&#8217;s nice to have everybody come out,&#8221; Gervasi said.</p><p>&#8220;Unfortunately, we&#8217;ve had to use their services twice in the fire department and twice in the police department in Scranton, amongst many others,&#8221; Gervasi added. &#8221;So it&#8217;s just a great day with great camaraderie from everyone and we raise a lot of money to help families that need it the most in their most dire times.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Danny Mhley releases his bowling ball at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center in March 2017 for the annual &#8220;Bowling for the Brave&#8221; event. This year&#8217;s event was held Sunday at Chacko&#8217;s. It raises funds to aid first responders dealing with the costs of fighting cancer. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Bowl1_faa-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Danny Mhley releases his bowling ball at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center in March 2017 for the annual &#8220;Bowling for the Brave&#8221; event. This year&#8217;s event was held Sunday at Chacko&#8217;s. It raises funds to aid first responders dealing with the costs of fighting cancer. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_mhley-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gabriel Mhley </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_mhley-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Gabriel Mhley </caption1><photoCredit1>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Katherine Pugh</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

‘Bowling for the Brave’ aids first responders fighting cancer