Helping the Man Who Has Helped So Many

An emergency services hero who has devoted much of his life to rescuing disaster victims and helping first responders in their darkest hours now needs the community to come to his aid.

Chris Lyons, 56, of Middle Island, is battling Stage 4 cancer attributed to his exposure to toxic conditions at Ground Zero following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Friends and supporters are organizing a benefit Saturday, November 14, at Popei's Clam Bar in Coram to help with his medical bills and living expenses.

The fundraiser begins at 1 p.m. at 451 Middle Country Road. Admission is $25, with complimentary food provided by Popei's. All proceeds will go directly to Lyons.

Lyons spent weeks working on the pile at Ground Zero, assisting with search, rescue and recovery operations. His dedication to helping others continued through some of the nation's worst disasters.

During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Lyons led rescue teams through flooded New Orleans neighborhoods, helping save stranded residents, including a woman who survived 10 days trapped inside her home.

The devastation inspired him and fellow rescuer Dave Fowler to establish Cops Helping Cops, an organization dedicated to assisting law enforcement officers and their families following disasters.

The group helped rebuild 22 homes for police families displaced by Katrina and has since provided emergency supplies and assistance to first responders nationwide.

"People see the uniform and assume first responders are taken care of," Lyons points out. "Our job is to make sure the people who protect us don't get forgotten."

Now, supporters hope to return that same compassion.

Donations can also be made through FundTheFirst.com by searching for Chris Lyons.

For additional information or to help with the fundraiser, contact Steven Abrams at 631-252-7059 or Avi Dicken at 516-765-0168.