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Fundraiser Held In Rancho Cucamonga To Aid Families Of Firefighters Killed In Arizona

RANCHO CUCAMONGA (CBSLA.com) — Friends and family members gathered Sunday to hold a fundraiser to aid the families of 19 firefighters who died battling an Arizona wildfire.

The event -- a live Country music concert -- was held at Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar & Grill" in Rancho Cucamonga.

'Country for the Crew' honors the 19 fallen firefighters -- aka the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew -- who died on June 30.

The Marshall Reign Band played live music. Food, drinks, raffles, t-shirts and other items were also sold at the event. All of the proceeds were going to be split by the families.

Cristy Fajardo, reporting for KCAL9, said many of the concertgoers were specifically thinking of 21-year-old Kevin Woyjeck, of Seal Beach.

People came from Orange and LA County which especially moved Kevin's father, Joe Woyjeck.

"It's never a good day when you wake up in the morning knowing we have to step back into this game. But for us to know that we have the loving support from our families and fire department families and from the public, in general, it is overwhelming," said Joe.

The concert, t-shirt sales, raffle idea is the work of two of Kevin's friends and someone who he didn't know.

"I never met Kevin myself," said Alan Averill, "but this is an epic event that's got everyone together."

Friend and fellow firefighter Tom  Sullivan said, "Kevin loved to dance, and he loved country music and getting together with friends. This is what he would have enjoyed."

Another one of Kevin's friends doesn't think the idea of the concert was extraordinary and said doing nothing was never a choice.

"If something like this were to happen to me, I'd like something like this done for me as well. We're just giving back to our brothers, and sisters. We just want to do right by them," said Ryan Spence.

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