He’s not just fighting fires. He’s fighting for kids who may not live to see another birthday.

Kurt DeGroot is a firefighter and the founder of Project Fire Buddies, a nationwide nonprofit connecting firefighters with children battling serious illnesses—especially terminal ones. These aren’t just meet-and-greets. They’re life-changing moments. Some of these kids have days left to live. Others just need a reason to smile through the pain.

This episode dives deep into how one small act of kindness turned into a national mission of hope. Kurt opens up about the emotional weight, the kids who changed his life, and why the fire service is uniquely positioned to serve families in crisis.

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