Macomb Township firefighter walks to fight cancer

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — A walk down the street is a trip. Walking across the state is a statement.

For six years, Joe Warne of Macomb Township has made this very statement, walking from Macomb Township to the Grand Rapids area. This walk, the #walkfortheRED, serves as the fundraising tentpole for Warne’s nonprofit, Neighbors United. The organization raises funds to help firefighters diagnosed with cancer, which is the leading cause of firefighter deaths.

“We really wanted to bring some light to it, so that propelled us to walking across the state the first year,” Warne, president of Neighbors United, said. “After meeting all of the firefighters and learning that our own captain in Macomb Township has leukemia is what made this a yearly event.”

A firefighter for the Macomb Township Fire Department himself, Warne began walking in 2019 after learning his captain was diagnosed with cancer. Ever since that first walk, the event has continued to grow with many people joining him for the first miles of walk from the Macomb Township Fire Department’s Station 2, on 21 Mile Road. Firefighters and other supporters join the walkers as they pass through towns.

For the 2024 walk, Warne and over 20 fellow walkers. All have been touched by cancer’s devastating effects on the fire service, and they walked from Station 2 to Cascade Township Fire Department Station 2 from Sept. 5-8. The walkers’ itinerary included overnight stops in White Lake, Howell and Portland. The trip is around 140 miles.

Neighbors United supports firefighters with cancer by providing them with money. Warne has a “no red tape” policy about the funds, allowing firefighters to use the money at their discretion based on their situation.

“We let them use it for whatever they want, but most of the time it’s for treatment, medical equipment, bills and if they need a vacation with their family because they’ve only got so much time left, they can use it for that, too,” Warne said.

Being based out of Macomb Township has led to many of Neighbors United’s supporters and funding sources being local, but the organization’s reach is as far — if not farther — than the walk’s 140 miles. Opening remarks and ceremonies at Station 2 in Macomb Township on Sept. 5 included a roll call of firefighters who have died, covering 20 people from 18 departments across the state including Ashley, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Hillsdale, New Haven, Roseville, Southfield and St. Clair Shores. Families of the firefighters honored were presented with gifts from Neighbors United.

Donations to Neighbors United were presented during the morning festivities as well. Suburban Ford donated $21,190 and the Thrilla Gives organization donated $5,000. The donations will go on to make up part of the over $500,000 Neighbors United gives to firefighters. Funds are presented to firefighters at an annual banquet.

“Last November, I had the privilege to attend the banquet where Joe presented the checks to the families that they had raised the funds for, and to say that it was a life-changing event is absolutely true,” Macomb Township Fire Chief Robert Phillips said during the opening ceremony. “To hear the stories of families, to hear the impact that Joe has made, the commitment that he makes every single day throughout the year and to provide them with some assistance to help was an amazing thing.”

Neighbors United can be found online at walkforthered.com and at facebook.com/neighborsunitedmi.