Fight With Phil
Fight With Phil
Secure a Safe Future for First Responders
Phil’s Story
Phil’s Story
Retired Lieutenant Phillip “Phil” Shinn began his extensive career in 1995 as a volunteer in North Marion County. He transitioned from the horse industry to Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) in 1999, where he remained until 2016.
Retired Lieutenant Phillip “Phil” Shinn began his extensive career in 1995 as a volunteer in North Marion County. He transitioned from the horse industry to Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) in 1999, where he remained until 2016.
Phil served in the early years of MCFR and continued to serve in multiple roles in the department as it grew. His connection to the community and his desire to serve were instrumental in the first years as an organized Marion County Fire Rescue.
Phil served in the early years of MCFR and continued to serve in multiple roles in the department as it grew. His connection to the community and his desire to serve were instrumental in the first years as an organized Marion County Fire Rescue.
In 2022, after retiring, Phil's routine check-up uncovered abnormal lab results. Further tests confirmed an undetected illness, leading to a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, a form of leukemia.
In 2022, after retiring, Phil's routine check-up uncovered abnormal lab results. Further tests confirmed an undetected illness, leading to a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, a form of leukemia.
Phil’s Fight
Phil’s Fight
Phil submitted his claim for benefits under the Fla. Stat. 112.1816 (2019) Cancer Presumption Bill and was DENIED by Marion County HR. This led Phil and the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County to contact James Spears of First Responder Law for assistance and the fight was on. James Spears helped author the bill and believes that Marion County lawyers are interpreting this wrong.
Phil submitted his claim for benefits under the Fla. Stat. 112.1816 (2019) Cancer Presumption Bill and was DENIED by Marion County HR. This led Phil and the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County to contact James Spears of First Responder Law for assistance and the fight was on. James Spears helped author the bill and believes that Marion County lawyers are interpreting this wrong.
Phil began treatment for his bone marrow cancer which included using his own stem cells in a bone marrow transplant to himself. He also receives chemotherapy every day for 21 days straight every month and IV chemotherapy every other week. Phil will continue this treatment for the rest of his life to fight his cancer.
Phil began treatment for his bone marrow cancer which included using his own stem cells in a bone marrow transplant to himself. He also receives chemotherapy every day for 21 days straight every month and IV chemotherapy every other week. Phil will continue this treatment for the rest of his life to fight his cancer.
The Bill for Firefighters
The Bill for Firefighters
The Firefighter Cancer Presumption Bill (Fla. Stat. 112.1816) was secured in the Florida Congress in 2019 with Unanimous Approval.
The Firefighter Cancer Presumption Bill (Fla. Stat. 112.1816) was secured in the Florida Congress in 2019 with Unanimous Approval.
Twenty-one cancers were deemed presumptive, meaning if you developed those cancers it was presumed that you were exposed to them at work.
Twenty-one cancers were deemed presumptive, meaning if you developed those cancers it was presumed that you were exposed to them at work.
The bill secures payment for medications and a single $25,000 dollar payout to assist with the expense of travel, doctor visits and missed work.
The bill secures payment for medications and a single $25,000 dollar payout to assist with the expense of travel, doctor visits and missed work.
Photo credit: Governors Press Office
We Fight for Your “Today,”
We Fight for Your “Today,”
Help us Fight for Our Tomorrow
Help us Fight for Our Tomorrow
There are over 265 known carcinogens in a typical residential structure fire.¹
Cancer caused 70 percent of the line-of-duty deaths for career firefighters in 2016.
2
Firefighters have a 100 percent increased risk (100 percent = double = 2 times) of getting mesothelioma. Firefighters have a 129 percent increased risk of dying from mesothelioma.
2
1. Lyon, F. (2006). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Preamble. Retrieved from: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Preamble/CurrentPreamble.pdf.
2. Firefightercancersupport.org/resources/faq
The Pinkerton study identified that fire fighters have a 9% greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% greater chance of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.¹
Data shows that firefighters face a 1.53 times greater risk for Multiple Myeloma compared to those who aren’t firefighters, this means for every 100 people who contract Multiple Myeloma, 153 firefighters contract the disease.
2
1. Pinkerton, L. (2020).Occup Environ Med. 2020 Feb;77(2):84-93.doi: 10.1136/oemed-2019-105962. Epub 2020 Jan 2.
2. Firefightercancersupport.org/resources/faq
Phil still serves the citizens of Marion County as a tax-paying resident and mentor for new firefighters. His presence is seen in meetings, discussions with politicians, and with his coordination of retirees for the Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County. He is a conservative republican who wants to secure a healthy future for future firefighters.
To date, Phil is not only fighting his illness, he‘s fighting the county to get the help he is entitled to. He will go before the Marion County courts on September 10th in hopes of getting the relief he and his family desperately need and are DESERVING of, based on FL. Stat 112.18.16 (2019). While his cancer is terminal the financial burden to his family should not be.
You Can Join the Fight!
Tell YOUR Commissioners how you feel about County HR denying Phil his benefits!
Ask them to solve this issue NOW!
Thank You!
The Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County would like to thank the organizations that have helped support the fight and spread the word.
The Professional Fire Fighters of Marion County would like to thank the organizations that have helped support the fight and spread the word.