A retired, Central Florida firefighter is walking across the entire Sunshine State in an effort to raise awareness about firefighters who die from cancer.
Tom “Bull” Hill, who worked as an Orange County Firefighter for several decades, began his nearly 640 mile walk from the Florida Keys to Tallahassee on Tuesday.
Hill is walking to urge lawmakers to pass the Cancer Presumption Law, which would recognize cancer deaths in firefighters as deaths in the line of duty and entitle families to the same benefits.
South Florida fire rescue departments are joining him along the way, including Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue’s Station 29. Firefighters are also helping Hill carry backpacks of memorabilia and helmet shields of fallen firefighters.
At least 33 states have a similar law, according to the International Association of Firefighters.