When Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke went for a routine visit to his primary care doctor last year, he left with a referral to see a hematologist.

“I didn’t even really know what a hematologist was,” the 52-year-old firefighter said in a recent phone interview. “But when I got there, the sign read hematologist oncologist. When I saw that sign on the door, I knew something was wrong.”

Mr. Clarke was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2022, but says that so far his health has been pretty good.

“People always seem to ask me two questions: ‘How are you doing?’ or ‘How do you feel?’” he said, explaining that for him those are two very different questions. “I’m doing great — I get up; I exercise; I go to work. I feel like crap because every day I wake up to this nightmare. The mental part of it is like, ‘Wow, I’ve got this illness that could potentially kill me tomorrow.’”

That isn’t what he focuses on though. Mr. Clarke will celebrate 19 years with the Richmond Fire Department this week. His career has seen him hold posts at stations #1, #11 and #13. He is currently working at the Downtown headquarters, but said his next posting will be at station #8.

In his spare time, what little there is of it, the father of one and grandfather of two says he works on cars a little bit.

“Most of the time, if I have free time I like to sit and watch TV though because usually I’m always doing something for somebody,” Mr. Clarke chuckled. “The family always calls me before they call the plumber.”

For Mr. Clarke, the idea of a blood drive was a way for him to give back and pay it forward. He says his buddy John Washington helped bring it all together.

“Before I got sick, I would always go and donate blood whenever I could,” Mr. Clarke said. “Now, I can’t give blood anymore, but I did need a transfusion myself a little while ago.

“People donated blood so I could get it when I needed it,” he adds. “I knew I could get friends and colleagues to donate and help others as well.”

For those who are not able to give blood, Mr. Clarke says prayers and monetary donations to the Red Cross are always welcome. A cancer fund in support of Mr. Clarke has been opened at the Richmond Virginia Fire Police Credit Union and donations to it can be made at a branch.

The Richmond Fire Department Blood Drive to support Mr. Clarke is taking place Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Room E10 on the first floor.

For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and use sponsor keyword “GRCC.” As a thank you, all donors will receive a $10 Amazon gift card via email.