POULSBO — Volunteer firefighter Ken Wickert has donated his time and labor for 18 years in various ways to Little Norway — as a firefighter, an ambulance driver, a Nordic Viking and a member of various civic groups.

Now, during a time of personal struggle with cancer, the community he has helped for so long is giving back.

The Poulsbo Fire Department is inviting the public to a dance and silent auction fund-raiser at 6 p.m. April 16 at the Sons of Norway in downtown Poulsbo. The band Thin Ice will be performing and donations of $10 will be taken at the door. Proceeds will go to the Wickert family to help with mounting medical bills as neither Wickert nor his wife Sherrie has insurance.

“They are just inundated with all the medical bills,” said PFD firefighter/EMT Tom Harvey. “We’re just trying to help them stay afloat.”

When word got out in August 2004 that Wickert had been diagnosed with cancer, the firefighter community, in typical fashion, came together and helped the family as much as it could.

“It goes back to the whole family philosophy of the fire service,” said PFD fire prevention specialist Kristi Wlodarchak.

They have called, visited, brought food, maintained Wickert’s gardens and built a ramp off the front porch for his wheelchair.

“I sit here sometimes and almost cry because of the help I’ve gotten,” Wickert said.

He started with PFD as a volunteer in 1979 and drove ambulances on his days off from his daytime job as a manager for Chico Towing. Wickert then worked for the City of Poulsbo as its first mechanic from 1982 to 1986, and then as a paid firefighter at Subase Bangor Fire Department (now Puget Sound Federal Fire Department) until 2001, all while volunteering for Poulsbo Fire. He was often a leader amongst his peers as an expert in handling fire equipment and training.

Wickert also never shied away from doing his civic duty as he was involved with a local firefighters association for nine years, is a member of the Poulsbo Sons of Norway, the Poulsbo Eagles Aerie and is one of the founding members of the Nordic Vikings.

While the symptoms of cancer started in the summer of 2003, he was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma in August 2004. He had an operation to remove the cancer and one of his kidneys, including a 20-pound. mass on his kidney and was recovering well.

In December 2004 though, just as Wickert and his new wife were about to go on their honeymoon, doctors discovered the cancer had spread throughout his body. He underwent surgery in January. However, the cancer has reached its worst stages and all doctors can do is to make Wickert comfortable.

“I’ve been feeling better with medications,” he said. “Basically, I’ve had a progressive outcome. Every day I feel better, a little stronger.”

Despite the hardship on his body, the support from his friends and family has helped him carry out his positive philosophy on life.

“Have a good time today and live for a better day tomorrow,” he said.