Volunteers worked in shifts to cook and serve spaghetti on Saturday, Nov. 4 during a benefit supporting Ken Wilson, Prospect assistant fire chief who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Irina Bucur/Butler Eagle 2023

PROSPECT - Volunteers started cooking spaghetti at 6 a.m. in preparation for a fundraiser held for assistant fire chief Ken Wilson on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department.

Event organizers expected to sell more than 1,000 dinners, said Josh Reinert, a friend of Wilson’s.

Wilson, 51, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August. His wedding took place just one month prior.

With four hours left in the fundraiser, and many more dinners and raffle tickets to sell into the evening, the in-person turnout spanned over 500 people Saturday afternoon, said Mark Lauer, a longtime friend of Wilson’s and president of the Karns City Regional Ambulance Service.

The high attendance was a direct reflection of his impact on the community, friends and family said.

“They’re here for Ken,” Reinert said. “That’s a testament to the impact he’s had.”

Longtime friends of Prospect assistant fire chief Ken Wilson, from left, Todd Hinkle, Mark Lauer and Josh Reinert describe the community as close-knit during a fundraiser dinner for Wilson, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. If the roles were switched, Wilson would have been there in a heartbeat to support any of his friends, they said. Irina Bucur/Butler Eagle 2023

On Saturday, it seemed as though the entire town had pitched in. Parking was available in five locations, with traffic on Main Street being directed by fire crews and volunteers. People who didn’t come in for a sit-down spaghetti dinner could order takeout. Others simply drove by, dropping off donations as they passed through.

At one point, workers from Prospect Pizza stopped in the fire hall, asking if there was a need for any more spaghetti sauce.

The event was livestreamed for Wilson to watch at home.

“It’s very welcoming and joyful to see how many people are, you know, supporting him that have come out of the community,” said Wilson’s brother, Frank.

The two brothers worked together in the fire department for a number of years, with Frank Wilson as fire chief, and Ken Wilson as assistant fire chief.

Frank Wilson said he is processing the news of his brother’s diagnosis one day at a time.

“We ask for lots of prayers,” he said.

Wilson and his brother-in-law, Todd Hinkle, have been friends for decades. Hinkle, who works as assistant fire chief in Portersville, said Wilson would be supporting him or any of his friends if the roles were reversed.

“If it was any of us, he would be right here,” Hinkle said.

“This is very emotional for us,” Hinkle said. “We don’t ask for help for ourselves. We never do. We have to do this for somebody who’s never asked for help and we just love him so much.”

Lauer said his firefighter and paramedic friends help each other when they respond to difficult calls. The camaraderie extends to supporting one of their own through illness.

“These guys, we’ve all helped each other through a lot, all of our lives,” Lauer said.

“Kenny, in a roundabout way, helped save my life,” he said. “I had a really bad couple of calls. And he was always there for me to talk with him and I talked a lot of calls out over the years because we’ve seen a lot of bad things. You know, he’s always been there for me when I needed somebody to talk to.”

Lauer said Wilson makes friends everywhere he goes.

“Whether it’s on his motorcycle or in the fire service, or just in a social setting, he’s made friends everywhere, and that shows today,” he said.

“Everybody has been friends with Kenny since they were kids,” Lauer said. “That’s what’s cool about a small community like this.”