Funeral Fundraiser for Boys Killed in Fire

Nine-year-old Kelvin Medina and his 4-year-old brother, Jean Carlos Marrero, were killed early Tuesday morning in a fire in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Just four days after desperately trying to save 9-year-old Kelvin Medina and his 4-year-old brother, Jean Carlos Marrero, from their burning Kingston Street home, firefighters in Lawrence, Massachusetts, came together to raise money for the boys' funerals.

"I couldn't really think if a better fund to go to right now, in a time of need," said supporter Debbie Sheaff.

The Lawrence Firefighters Association hosts rounds of the game "three-card cover" weekly. Half the money goes to winners and half to a local charity.

"We had few extra people come today," said organizer Judy Torrissi. "When people hear of what we're doing, they like to come."

Community members who came to play Saturday say the fire deeply impacted the Lawrence, so raising the money to provide a proper burial for the young boys seems sadly appropriate.

"Naturally," said Jeff Walsh. "It's a Lawrence community, it's a good community."

"That's what friends do for friends," said Joyce Fredette of Methuen.

Sheaff is married to a local firefighter. She says there are always tough calls, but the toughest ones involve kids that can't be saved.

"My husband's been to certain calls where they've involved children," said Sheaff. "He's come home and he doesn't want to do anything but spend time with his own kids - it hurts that bad."

Many Lawrence firefighters at the four-alarm fire Tuesday were back at work Saturday, protecting a city still reeling from a tragic fire.

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