Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
MANSFIELD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Mixed in with the green grass along Memorial Field in Mansfield this past weekend was a fair amount of hair.
Local firefighters shaved their heads during a fundraiser Sunday for an 11-year-old cancer patient.
Flynn Murphy of Mansfield was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
The Mansfield Firefighter's Union Local 1820 sponsored the 'Fight Like Flynn Buzz Off,' which was held during the Pop Warner youth football games.
Firefighters and their friends raised money for the Murphy family by shaving their heads in solidarity while donations were pledged.
Firefighter Ryan Hinchey has known the Murphys for years and helped organize the event.
He said helping the community is one of firefighter's most important jobs. "That's really the whole idea behind being a firefighter, being a paramedic," he said. "It's a way to give back to the community and take care of each other."
Another firefighter, Dan McCarthy, decided to get his head shaved because his fiancé used to be Flynn's teacher, and he wanted to help. "It's just an incredible story, someone who has incredible strength, someone we can all really look up to and be inspired by."
Flynn's older sister has also been battling cancer and is currently in remission.
Organizers said the goal of the fundraising is to help ease the Murphy's financial burden from medical bills and expenses.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.