An event to benefit a former Smyrna police officer who was diagnosed with a deadly medical condition affecting his brain is scheduled for this weekend.
A Beef and Beer will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Clayton Fire Hall to raise money for the family of Ray Armstrong, who served with the department for 10 years. He was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes, a condition that has no cure and is fatal.
Lt. Torrie James of the Smyrna Police Department helped organize the event and said it was aimed primarily at helping offset medical and travel costs for Armstrong's family, including his wife, Erica and 14 year old daughter and a 9 year old step son. A GoFundMe page for Armstrong that's raised more than $2,300 says the vitamins he takes for treatment cost $700 a month and he is currently in an ICU in Pennsylvania.
"Ray is just a great guy. You're not gonna find a lot of people with anything bad to say about him," James said.
James and Chief Norman Wood picked up 150 lbs. of meat from the Camden-Wyoming Market on Thursday for the event, which will also feature a host of donated items that will be auctioned and raffled.
Wood said the Smyrna police community was rallying behind Armstrong, who has been unable to work since May and officially retired last month.
For more information, visit the event's Facebook webpage.
