Photo Gallery | Inspiration: cancer stricken girl seeks to help other children

KANNAPOLIS - "It is a big tumor...it will require surgery...it is likely cancer...it is not a good prognosis."

These are the things that strike fear in the heart of any parent. This is what Alan and Myra Thompson heard about their wonderful daughter, Angel after a visit to the ER and further testing.

Alan and his family have a special place in both Cabarrus and Rowan County. Alan is currently a North Carolina Paramedic and Nationally Registered Paramedic working with Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Service where he serves in the position of Assistant Director.

In addition to this, he serves in a collateral duty assignment as a member of the Kannapolis Police Department, Special Response Team in the role of a tactical paramedic and response team member.

He has worked in emergency medical services for a total of 23 years and been very active as a provider in education and public education campaigns. He is currently an instructor / director with the paramedic education program for Rowan Cabarrus Community College. During his tenure, he has won regional paramedic competitions as well as traveling across the state, educating other EMS providers.

He currently serves on several local and state committees with focus on improvement in care for stroke, heart disease, and cardiac arrest.

Even with all this, Alan serves as a as a local Methodist pastor for two United Methodist churches in Cabarrus County. There are countless other civic and volunteer programs he and his family are associated with.

A very special program that was initiated by Angel was to collect new games and distribute them to local pediatric hospitals, (Levine Children’s Hospital and Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital). She started the program after being diagnosed with her brain tumor and has continued the program until now. She has collected and distributed over one thousand games to locations in both Cabarrus and Mecklenburg County. To read more about Angel's journeys go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelthompson. A fundraiser web site has also been established and you can follow it at http://angelsguardiansfundraiser.blogspot.com/.

How Can We Help -

Come out and support all of Emergency Services at Bass Pro Shops, Concord Mills. Beginning on April 19th at 11:00 am, Cabarrus County Sheriff, local Chiefs and Emergency Service Directors from throughout the county will commence the fundraiser on the roof of Bass Pro. Different members of Alan’s, emergency services family will continue to stay on the roof through Sunday, attempting to collect enough money to help pay for Angel’s medical bills.

Items on Display

• Saturday - 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm – All of Cabarrus County Sheriff Office SRT members, (full tactical uniforms).

• Saturday - 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm – All of Kannapolis Police SRT members, (full tactical uniforms).

• Silent Auction of racing memorabilia with all proceeds going to the fundraiser

• Numerous law enforcement vehicles and display items

• Fire department ladder and rescue vehicles

• Various types of emergency services vehicles

• Tactical vehicles

• Carolinas Medical Center response vehicle

• Stewart Haas show cars

• Food will be available for purchase with all proceeds going to the fundraiser.

For additional information or questions, you can either contact Captain Patrick Patty at the Kannapolis Police Department at 704.920.4012 or contact CCSO Sergeant Tessa Burchette at TDBurchett@cabarruscounty.us / phone 704.920.3043.