ASHLAND — A softball game between Ashland police and fire personnel, originally slated for a Friday matchup, has been postponed after the death of a police chaplain’s wife.
Battle of the Badges was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Brookside Park on Sept. 3. Funds raised there will benefit fire Capt. Mark Miller’s wife and family following a breast cancer diagnosis in November.
Miller said in an email the postponement came following the death of Chaplain Reid Firestone’s wife, Teresa. Firestone serves as Ashland Police Division’s Chaplain.
“The family is planning memorial services for Friday … and everyone felt it better to postpone the game,” Miller said.
Teresa “Terri” Firestone died Aug. 30, according to her obituary. She was 62.
“We are aware of the numerous times that Chaplain Firestone has been at the side of our local law enforcement in their own times of need. It is for all of those reasons that we are postponing our inaugural “Battle of the Badges” Police vs. Fire softball game in order to allow as many members as possible, from both divisions, to attend Mrs. Firestone’s services (on Sept. 3),” read a statement from the local International Association of Firefighters #1386.
The Battle of the Badges event was organized by the IAFF #1386 to raise money for Miller’s family.
Friday’s game has yet to be rescheduled.
Mary Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer Nov. 20. She began rounds of chemotherapy in January, which last 20 weeks, said Mark Miller in an email.
“After chemotherapy she had a partial mastectomy with complications from an infection. It took a week in the hospital to treat the infection and she ended up having two more surgeries to deal with the wound,” he said.
His wife then went through 15 rounds of radiation treatment, finishing up Aug. 18, he said. And she will receive infusions of Herceptin, a chemotherapy drug, every three weeks through the end of the year.
“It’s been a lengthy process but she’s had a great team at Taussig Cancer Center at the Cleveland Clinic,” he said.
Miller said Mary has been doing well and that she returned to work at OhioHealth Heart and Vascular as a registered nurse.
“She’s been able to add some cycling back into her routine too. ” he said.
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