Votes Needed: Local Firefighter Up for $10,000 Prize

East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Firefighter Mark Ryzac, Oakley,  is up for a “Hero of the Year Award” from California Casualty who honors those who help make our communities better.

For the last year, California Casualty have been acknowledging heroes with their Nominate a Hero Program and have recently announced their finalists. Ryzac was nominated last December as the hero of the month is now one of eight finalists. If he is voted the winner, he can win $10,000 prize and a vacation for his family.

Voting for Mark R. is easy!

Simply (click here) and share the page on social media to make your vote count. Once on the page, you’ll see Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Tumblr and Google+ icons. You can share once on each of these platforms, and each vote counts! If you are unable to share on social media, you can submit your vote on our blog’s contact page. Voting closes on 12/30! Votes made after the deadline will not be counted.

Mark Ryzac Story of Nomination

Mark and Jessica met under the worst of circumstances. A driver crashed into a car carrying Jessica and her daughter, Kendra, on a backwoods rural road. Mark and his team responded to the scene. As responders worked on freeing Jessica from the vehicle, she remembers Mark crawling into the car beside her, assessing her medical state and updating her on Kendra’s condition.

“He not only took care of me that day, he held my hand, made me human not just a patient,” remembers Jessica.

Following the accident, Mark traveled to check on Jessica’s daughter after she underwent brain surgery. Even now, Mark continues to keep tabs on Kendra, responding whenever she has a medical emergency, even if he’s off-duty, and organizing fellow firefighters to help build a wheelchair ramp for her home.

Seven years after their fateful meeting, the three remain close friends.

http://mycalcas.com/2013/12/mark-r-nah-hoty/

Remember, voting closes December 30, 2013.