Lang's son, Benjamin Matthew Lang, was a three-year member of Polk County Fire Rescue when, at age 22, he was killed while working an accident on Dundee Road in Winter Haven on Aug. 23, 2004.
During her long and painful journey after the accident, Sherri Lang was faced with the difficult transition to life without her son. The Winter Haven resident said there were many unexpected expenses, adding she shudders to think what would have happened had it not been for the support and resources she had.
In her son's memory, Lang created the Fallen Firefighter Survivors Foundation. Its mission is to offer immediate financial assistance to the surviving family of any firefighter killed in the line of duty across the United States.
"As a parent, you just can't accept it, and I was looking to make something positive out of something that was so tragic, and to support the survivors because I am one of them," she said.
To achieve the foundation's mission, its seven-member board stays motivated by organizing fundraising events. The primary fundraiser, what the board hopes will be the world's largest motorcycle poker run, will take place May 1.
"We were looking for a way to gain more participants and more chapters and to host events in their locations," said Matt Nichols, president of the Polk County Red Knights, a motorcycle organization comprised of firefighters.
