'A Hero Within His Community': Friends Rally To Fundraise For Fallen Firefighter

PEABODY, MA – Friends of Daniel Pimenta, the Peabody firefighter who died after he was struck by a car while biking in Beverly on Sunday, have created an online fundraiser to honor his memory and support his family. The GoFundMe page had raised more than $3,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, already surpassing its $1,000 goal.

Pimenta – who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerois 25 years ago, according to the Peabody Fire Department – rode in the Ride MS bike race and participated in the MS Climb To The Top this year. According to the GoFundMe page, he climbed 61 flights of stairs in his full firefighter uniform.

"Dan Pimenta was a hero within his community in more ways than one can imagine," reads the fundraiser. "He not only fought this diagnosis with a Herculean fashion, he raised awareness for MS at every opportunity possible. "

Pimenta, who was 53 and served the fire department for 27 years, is survived by his wife and two children. The fundraiser aims to support them, and raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Click here to visit the fundraiser.

Image via GoFundMe