Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) hosted a fundraiser on October 13, benefiting Katherine Litchfield, who was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Carcinoid cancer in October 2007. “It is support at a level that I have never received before and I am very grateful for everything that has been done for me” Litchfield said. Chief Keith Richter, Deputy Chief McIntosh, Fire Captain Greg Mckeown, is just to name a few people that participated in this event among other employees from OCFA. Participants had a premium to shave their heads in order to raise money for a worthy cause. Fire Captain Greg Mckeown shaved his head because he wanted to show his support and “to raise money for her treatments” Mckeown said. Options for Litchfield’s type of cancer are limited and the only successful treatments consist of systemic treatment through oral chemotherapy and radiation. The cancer (tumors) must be treated throughout her entire body or they will continue to metastasize. This treatment is over a three month period and has a success rate approximately 16-20%. It's important to stay positive and live one day at a time” Litchfield said. That's how we get to 5 years or 10 years living with cancer - one day at a time. If oral chemotherapy treatment fails Litchfield has a contingency plan that consists of another clinical treatment program in Germany. This treatment has a much higher success rate near 70-80% but has an application process and a lengthy wait list time of 4-6 months. A significant portion of her test and treatments have been covered by insurance but as the treatments move into clinical trial that could be out of state or country, insurance is no longer covering the treatments. “Everyone has been remarkable, I am very impressed at how everyone rallied to treat me as a member of the fire family” Litchfield said.