FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A retired Fresno County Deputy is getting much-needed help from his hometown community. The Sheriff's Office, along with the Life After The Badge organization, decided to chip in and host a fundraiser and silent auction after finding out about his brain cancer. “Strengthening and rewarding knowing that coming home, being around friends, family and members of the community to support, to help me fight my fight,” Austin Herion said. Austin Herion is a father of three and served Fresno County for more than two decades. In July of 2023, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, and paying for medical bills has not been easy. “I’m not done here. I got to help my wife, my three kids and, you know, we've had some bad luck. My father-in-law was diagnosed with this cancer and he lost in six months, roughly about 15 months ago,” Herion said. Support a retired Fresno County deputy battling cancer The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Life After The Badge got wind of Herion's situation, so they jumped into action. “I called and we had a conversation about four weeks ago. And in that process, I came to discover that he had run out of funds. He could not continue the treatments. These treatments not only extended his life, but the quality of his life,” George Ozburn of Life After The Badge said. Yosemite Falls Cafe is hosting the fundraiser and silent auction. “He and his wife both said they felt like they had been forgotten about, that nobody cared and that finally somebody listened and stood up to do something,” Ozburn said. ‘Fight the fight’: Retired Fresno County Deputy battling brain cancer The goal is to raise $15,000. “Before we opened the doors this evening, I had already reached the goal of $10,000 and so that included sales and the things that we were getting. And so now with the raffle, we cannot possibly calculate it. Right now we haven't had such a great turnout and I'm really excited for the family because 100% of the net proceeds go to him,” Ozburn said. If you’d like to donate to help Austin with his fight with cancer, click here.