With Creasy in the fold, Andes said his organization is planning to raise the issue again.

“I don’t know how long we have him to be the voice for this, but I can tell you, when he’s gone, it’s going to be the next person up,” Andes said. “That’s the frightening thing about this.”

Since receiving the diagnosis, the Creasys have held more than 20 workshops at fire departments across the state to educate firefighters about the risk cancer presents and what precautions they can take to limit their exposure to the hazardous chemicals they encounter. They have a workshop scheduled in Front Royal this week.

Earl Dyer worked for eight years alongside Creasy during his stint as Richmond’s fire marshal. Beyond Creasy’s fortitude, his openness throughout the ordeal has left an impression on Dyer.

“A lot of people wouldn’t be so open with you about what they were going through, the effects that the medication was having on them, the struggle, or some of the things he had to experience and had never experienced before, how it made it difficult for him to come to work and do the things he enjoyed doing,” Dyer said.