• All proceeds go toward financial support for Kipp Johnson in his fight against lung cancer.
Lincoln County First Responders in Afton have teamed up to provide a fundraising event to support Afton Firefighter Kipp Johnson, who has recently been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Community members are invited to visit a holiday light show on Friday and Saturday, December 20-21 from 6-8 p.m. at 76219 Highway 89 in Smoot. The first responders will serve cups of cocoa through car windows to visitors, and in return, visitors will be asked to make a donation of any amount to financially support Kipp in his current medical journey.
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Kipp and his wife, Missy, have long served the Afton community. Kipp has been with the Afton Volunteer Fire Department for 26 years, while Missy has spent many years in food service at community facilities and in the schools. With this new diagnosis, Kipp’s treatment plan requires him to undergo 35 chemotherapy treatments in Idaho Falls, which means a daily treatment five times a week for the next seven weeks. The financial burden for his treatment includes not only chemotherapy, but lodging and travel, lost wages, and other costs for medical support.
Megan Sainz, who organized the fundraiser, knew of the family’s situation and approached Celia Johnson who has annually offered a large, Christmas light display for friends and neighbors to enjoy. Celia agreed to host the fundraiser, inviting community members to her light show, where first responders will distribute cocoa in exchange for donations to Kipp’s cause.
Folks are invited to “drive through Celia’s lights, and somewhere along the way, they can stop and one of the First Responders will hand them some cocoa through the window,” Sainz explained in an interview with SVI Media last week. “In return for that cocoa, we just ask for a donation of any amount. Kipp is really just such a giving person, and when the fire alarm goes off in town, he’s always one of the first to respond and show up when there’s a crash or a fire or whenever someone needs help.” Sainz encourages everyone to come out. Kipp and Missy need “all hands on deck and everyone pitching in.”
