NY J01561

Brian McQueen is retiring in December 2025 after 11 years of service to the Believe 271 Foundation, which he co-founded in March 2014

McQueen co-founded the Believe 271 Foundation after being diagnosed with B-cell, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014, a direct result of his work as a volunteer firefighter with over 40 years of service

The Believe 271 Foundation has provided over $400,000 in financial assistance to volunteer firefighters and ladies auxiliaries in Oneida and Herkimer Counties facing cancer and life-threatening illnesses

The Foundation's educational program on occupational cancer risks has reached over 6,000 volunteer firefighters and their families, addressing research showing 62% of firefighters would be impacted by occupational cancer

McQueen's advocacy led to a cancer benefit for all volunteer firefighters in New York State becoming active in 2019, and he contributed to the first national Lavender Ribbon Report on firefighter cancer prevention