Firefighter with cancer gets support at Thursday’s UK game

Lexington firefighters traded fire-engine red for Kentucky Wildcat blue Thursday night as they hit the court at Rupp Arena to support a fellow firefighter in need.

The firefighters played an exhibition game during halftime of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball game against Tennessee to raise awareness for firefighter Matt Logsdon, who was recently diagnosed with stage four cancer.

UK Athletics contacted the department earlier in the week, offering the court and jerseys from Nike, firefighter Kyle Branham said.

One team wore white and the other wore blue, but both teams’ jerseys sported #TeamLogsdon across the back. The white team won 14-2.

The white team had one advantage: paramedic and firefighter Nastassia Alcius. She played on the UK women’s basketball team from 2004 to 2007.

“It felt good to just come back and be in front of the home crowd,” Alcius said. “It’s good being out here for such a good cause, just being able to give back to our fellow firefighter and just show him that we’re here for him 100 percent.”

The main point of the game was to raise awareness, she said.

“A lot of people don’t understand the rigors of our job and this is one of them,” Alcius said. “We go into burning buildings and there’s a lot of byproducts that are coming out at us.”

She said she thinks Logsdon, a big UK fan, is happy with the way his fellow firefighters supported him.

“He’s a fighter, I’ve made a few runs with him and I know where his heart is,” Alcius said. “I know how he feels about all of this, the support and everything. He knows his brothers and sisters, we’re here for him.”

The game was also enough to pull recently retired Fire Chief Keith Jackson back into action. He said it wasn’t a difficult choice to make.

“Matt and I have a good relationship, we live near each other, and we grew up together in the department,” said Jackson, who scored several points for the winning team. “Supporting him is great, not much else would’ve got me out there.”

The halftime game moved quick, but the firefighters had a good time, Branham said.

“We had a blast out there just celebrating him and just giving him best wishes in his treatment and recovery,” he said.

Logsdon, a 10-year veteran with the department and father of three, appeared before the firefighters’ game on the big screens in Rupp Arena from where he’s receiving treatment in Chicago. He talked about how grateful he was for the support from the community and the fire department.

“We work together 24 hours, so it’s a big family, and we’re here to support in any way possible when someone’s sick or injured,” Branham said.

When the pair talked Wednesday night, Logsdon told Branham the support he has received from the community made everything he’s dealing with a little easier.

“It’s hard for him to have a bad day,” he said.

Those wishing to show their support to Logsdon and his family can visit his GoFundMe page or follow #TeamLogdson on social media. A Facebook page called Matt Logsdon’s Cancer Battle Page also has been created.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Firefighter with cancer gets support at Thursday’s UK game."