For many years, Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Ronald Ellis has done a lot for the residents of Sampson County.
Kevin Hall, chief of Roseboro Rescue and EMS Inc., knows a lot about his dedication.
“He’s does so much as a community servant,” Hall said.
In addition to working as a dive team lieutenant and board member for Roseboro Rescue, some of that work includes volunteer work at the Herring Fire Department and part-time duties with the Clinton Fire Department.
Ellis has a passion to save lives. Now, he’s fighting to save his own after being diagnosed with brain cancer in April. Local emergency personnel are pulling together to host a pancake and sausage breakfast fundraiser for Ellis. It’s scheduled for 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Clinton Fire Department, 222 Wall St., Clinton. The fee is $5 and supporter will have an opportunity to eat in, take out or receive the meal through a drive-thru. All proceeds are going to Ellis to assist with needs. Bracelets in support of him will also be sold for $5.
“We wanted to do something so Ronald can have some stress taken off,” Hall said. “Whatever they need to do, this is for them. We just want to give back to him. He’s given so much for everybody.”
Shortly after being diagnosed, he underwent surgery at Duke medical facilities. He started chemo and radiation and is being treated at the Cancer center in Clinton.
“He’s very optimistic about it,” Hall said. “That’s always how he’s been with everything. We just want to do the most we can for him.”
Ellis, a native of Sampson County, has many ties to the area and Hall has known Ellis for almost his entire life.
“I see him as a mentor,” he said “I’ve been chief here for a year now and he’s taught me a lot.”
With 13 years of experience, Hall added that he played a big part in his growth as a emergency professional.
“I think you can hear that echoed not only in Sampson County, but throughout the state of North Carolina,” Hall said about rescue and firefighter courses taught outside of Sampson County.
He was also one of the founding organizers for the county’s Dive (Rescue and Recovery) Team, which is a division of Roseboro Rescue. Another program he helped start with Joel Faircloth was Agriculture Rescue, a special pilot program through the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal. It includes education about agricultural machinery, the environment and rescuing patients from accidents. Courses are taught at various locations throughout North Carolina.
A lot of his time with emergency operations, were spent on a volunteer basis.
“I wish we had a bunch of Ronald Ellises because of his work ethic and his sense of community,” Hall said. “If a lot of agencies had a bunch of Ronalds they would be doing a lot better.”
Ellis is married to Theresa and together they have two sons Blake and Brandon. Outside of his emergency and volunteer work, Ellis has spent 25 years with Prestage Farms as a service representative. Ellis is also a member at the Grove Park Baptist Church.
Hall said almost every fire department or law enforcement agency has tickets available. Additional information about tickets or bracelet purchases are available online at www.rosebororescue.com or through the department’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/RoseboroEmergencyServices
Monetary donations are being accepted as well. They can be mailed to Roseboro Rescue and EMS, Inc., P.O. Box 891, Roseboro, NC 28382. Checks should be made payable to Roseboro Rescue, with Ronald Ellis Fundraiser written on the memo line.
