What do comedy, firefighting and fighting cancer have in common?
To Freetown and Rochester – that connection is Mark “Larry Legend Lawrence.”
Lawrence has been a firefighter for 12 years. He started in his hometown Rochester as a call firefighter and moved on to neighboring Freetown.
Over the years, he has taken his “natural skill of cracking jokes” to the stage and is raising money for cancer, especially for firefighters who are exposed to toxins and are susceptible to contracting cancer.
According to a written release, New England stand-up comedian Tony V will host the America’s Funniest Firefighter New England Region Finals on May 17 at Florian Hall in Dorchester.
Six firefighters from departments across the area will compete for a $5,000 grand prize, and a chance to compete to be America’s Funniest Firefighter; all proceeds will go to Firefighters vs Cancer, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation that provides free cancer screenings for firefighters, according to a release.
“The standup competition will pair six firefighters with six seasoned comedians from New England. The professional stand-ups will mentor the firehouse favorites as they craft a five-minute comedy set,” also according to the release.
“I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh forever,” said Lawrence, who is new to stand-up comedy. “I’m naturally skilled in the art of laughter and the cracking of jokes.”
Lawrence said his routine relies on the public perception of firefighting versus the reality of the work.
In a written release, Lawrence further described himself as a “perpetual force of chaotic good, gleefully serving the public at large for a safer, better, brighter, and funnier tomorrow.”
Though Lawrence makes light of how the public might misunderstand the life of a firefighter, he takes fighting cancer seriously.
“More needs to be done to prevent cancer – in the fire services especially,” Lawrence said. “Our standard equipment is extremely toxic, and the more you wear it, the more you use it, you are more likely to contract some form of cancer.”
Lawrence said “upwards of 40 percent of firefighters are diagnosed with cancer at some point.” Lawrence said his grandfather had cancer, but other than that, there is no history of cancer in his family.
That said, Lawrence was still inspired by a former Rochester firefighter, who helped in the founding of the Brotherhood Ride in Florida, where firefighters take to motorcycles and ride around that state to honor fallen brothers and sisters in the field.
Lawrence said that the winner of the May 17 regional finals will later compete in a “Super Bowl” comedy event that represents comedic firefighters in the United States and Canada. The winner will be crowned as America’s Funniest Firefighter
Lawrence said this is the first time he will compete in such an event. Tables and single tickets are on sale now at FirefightersvsCancer.org.
By Jeffrey D. Wagner