Springfield fire chief Mike Caven is putting his own battle with a rare, slow‑growing blood cancer to work for the community. In March, he will climb 69 flights – 1,356 steps – in full gear at Seattle’s Columbia Tower as part of Blood Cancer United’s annual firefighter stair‑climb.
Caven, who became chief in 2022, says the challenge feels like a way to prove he’s still capable despite ongoing treatment. “Being diagnosed with blood cancer myself, it’s a spot where I feel good enough with treatment, and maybe a little piece of wanting to prove that I’ve still got that in me,” he told the Lookout.
From screening to fundraising
The diagnosis came after Caven championed firefighter‑specific physical exams (NFPA 1582) for the department. Those exams include cancer screenings to catch occupational health issues early, a policy he helped secure during contract bargaining as president of IAFF Local 851. “It was poetic that I was the first case of cancer that they found in that process,” Caven said.
Following fatigue, headaches and insomnia, a physical flagged a concern and further testing confirmed the cancer. Caven describes his near‑term prognosis as “pretty good,” noting that treatment has halted disease progression.
Fundraising goals and community support
Since launching the campaign on Sept. 30, Caven has raised more than $8,400 and aims to reach $20,000. He is currently the top fundraiser among the more than a dozen Springfield firefighters joining the climb, an event that draws about 2,000 competitors and has raised over $32 million for blood‑cancer research and patient support since 1991.
“I have a treatment that has a potential to cause remission that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to access,” Caven said, emphasizing the importance of Blood Cancer United’s work in covering treatments not covered by insurance.
Training and personal motivation
At 45, Caven has begun training to finish the climb in under 20 minutes. He jokes that the fundraising effort has become a “little hyperfixation,” offering a distraction from sleepless nights. “After I started to get interest, I kept raising my goal higher because it seemed achievable,” he explained.
Caven kept his diagnosis private for months before sharing it with his department, believing the story could help raise awareness of the occupational cancer risks firefighters face.
His climb highlights both the personal courage of a local leader and the broader need for continued research and support for blood‑cancer patients.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
