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The Helena community rallied around firefighter Ryan Mizell on Sunday, Nov. 3 during Guns and Hoses, a barbecue cookoff that raised more than $10,000 to support Mizell during his battle with cancer. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer  

HELENA – The Helena community rallied around firefighter Ryan Mizell on Sunday, Nov. 3 during Guns and Hoses, a barbecue cook off that raised more than $10,000 to support Mizell during his battle with cancer.

According to Helena Fire Chief Chris Miller, Mizell served as a firefighter in Helena for more than a decade before he discovered that he had stage four colon cancer in April of this year. Since then, he has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and surgeries.

Miller shared that several members of the fire department wanted to do something to show their support for Mizell and his family, and they thought of the idea for Guns and Hoses.

“(Guns and Hoses) is an event to benefit one of our firefighters that is battling cancer,” Miller said. “This event was thought of by some of the guys here and some of the people in this city as a way to support him.”

According to Miller, the original idea for Guns and Hoses was to feature a barbecue cook off between the Helena Police Department and the Helena Fire Department.

“We just thought it would be fun to have a cook off, fire against police, as a way to raise the money,” Miller said. “Everybody likes to see firemen and police going back and forth. And although we do (go back and forth), we especially like to do it for a good cause.”

While planning Guns and Hoses, the HFD received interested from several different departments in surrounding cities that wanted to join the competition. On the day of the event, several grilling teams faced off to raise money for the Mizell family.

Teams included the Helena Police Department, the Helena Fire Department, the Montevallo Fire Department, the Helena Old Town Board and the Birmingham Firefighters Association. In addition, those teams were joined by Chief Grilldaddy and the Hose Draggers Cook Team, a team of fire service personnel that cook for charity.

Miller shared that the teams gathered at the Helena Amphitheater to begin cooking the night before the event and stayed awake all night to have the barbecue ready for Guns and Hoses.

“Last night, it was just us out here,” Miller said. “We had guitars playing, just hanging out, cooking, talking. That’s a way for us to kind of unwind and come together at the same time. There’s a lot of camaraderie built that way.”

The following day, the Helena community showed up in full force to support the Mizell family. Droves of people joined fire trucks from Helena, Alabaster and Pelham at Amphitheater Park on Sunday, Nov. 3 for the event.

“Seeing it all come together is pretty awesome,” Miller said. “I didn’t think we were going to have this kind of turnout.”

Attendees could purchase wristbands allowing them to sample the barbecue while enjoying live music courtesy of Rollin’ in the Hay as kids played on a bounce house. All the proceeds from the wristband sales went to supporting the Mizell family.

According to a post by the Helena Police Department, Guns and Hoses raised more than $10,000 for Mizell and his family.

Those interested in donating to support the Mizell family can visit Gofundme.com/f/stand-with-firefighter-ryan-mizell-a-heros-fight?qid=547d1117948321b52ce0c5b7d1f10a96.

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