TULSA -- A former Tulsa firefighter battling cancer is spending his time raising money through his own charity, Hydrants of Hope, for kids fighting the disease just like him.
Mark Meyer spent more than 15 years with TFD and loved every minute of it.
Back in 2012 during a routine checkup, doctors discovered his growing belly to actually be a tumor in his stomach.
Meyer thought his growing stomach was due to eating habits and growing older, but it turned out to be cancer.
He traveled to New York in December of 2012 where doctors removed a 32 pound tumor. He then flew to Germany where doctors removed 15 metastasis from his left lung, and 12 in his right lung. During that time he decided it was his time to retire from his dream job.
Since then he's created a charity called Hydrants of Hope. He's already raised about $100,000 and given it to families at St. Francis hospital to help children battling cancer.
Meyer has always loved softball after coaching his daughter years ago. He's now a volunteer softball coach at Verdigris High School.
His daughter, inspired by him, nominated her dad to throw out at the first pitch at the NCAA Softball World Series.
Even if he doesn't get chosen to throw out the first pitch, Meyer is dedicated to continue raising money for kids, and spreading the word on getting yourself checked by doctors.
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