Local firefighter climbing to new heights to support childhood cancer
Brian Villec, a financial advisor and Lewes Fire Department volunteer firefighter, will participate in the Embark Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb starting Saturday, June 21, raising money for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.
Villec is aiming to collect $25,000 for the foundation. He and nine other climbers, including his daughter, Ellie, will trek to support the largest provider in the country of financial assistance to families of children diagnosed with cancer.
“Being able to support the B+ Foundation and all the good work they do was something that excited me,” Villec said.
The B+ Foundation honors the life of Andrew McDonough, an athlete and A student from Wilmington. McDonough died in 2007 at the age of 14 after battling leukemia, septic shock and complications of childhood cancer for 167 days.
McDonough’s B+ blood type emerged into the motto, Be Positive, for his family and friends throughout his fight against childhood cancer. The B+ Foundation aims to provide financial support to families of kids with cancer, fund childhood cancer research, promote awareness and spread positivity.
Villec was drawn to the B+ Foundation as a financial advisor and planner. He is a partner with Flagship Asset Services, a company based in Wilmington and Towson, Md. Villec considered the monetary burden families face while they simultaneously struggle along with their child.
“They have to be singularly focused on getting their child healthy, and, at the same time, all the bills and responsibilities of daily life don’t stop,” Villec said.
There are unexpected life events one can prepare to face, like an injury or death in the family, Villec said. However, he said, there isn’t a way for families to protect against the financial consequences that result when a child is diagnosed with cancer.
The B+ Foundation works to combat these monetary hardships by assisting families with mortgage payments, moving families to locations that offer lifesaving treatment and helping with car expenses to ensure reliable transportation to and from hospitals.
The organization has long been present in the Wilmington native’s life. Villec’s sons have attended or currently attend Salesianum School, where McDonough also went. When Villec’s oldest son was in the third grade, McDonough sadly died in the hospital.
“Perfect picture of health one day,” Villec said. “Then the next day, he’s in the hospital and he never leaves the hospital.”
Over the years, Villec has participated in the annual B+ 5K several times. As an avid hiker searching for another way to give back to the community and support a good cause, the June trek presented a perfect opportunity.
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro – the highest freestanding mountain above sea level – has been on Villec’s bucket list for years. He planned to cross the adventure off his list with his daughter, Ellie, after she graduated from the University of Delaware in 2026. However, Ellie raised the question of tackling the climb this summer when she saw that the B+ Foundation was hosting a trip.
In the absence of mountains in the Mid-Atlantic region, Villec has been preparing for the trek by getting into the best cardiovascular shape possible. He often does regional rucking exercises, which refers to hiking with a weighted pack on his back. He also takes lengthy bike rides across the state with his family and mixes swimming into his regimen to keep his fitness at an advanced level.
With its peak at 19,360 feet, Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro will be the highest Villec has climbed to date. He’s done many hiking trips as the leader of his sons’ Boy Scouts backpacking expeditions. But now, Villec is taking on his steepest trek.
Embark, the tour company assisting the B+ Foundation, uses the Swahili phrase “pole pole,” meaning “slowly, slowly.” The 10-person group – which will be supported by a large staff of guides, cooks and porters – will gradually climb to higher elevations.
It’ll take eight days to reach the summit. On the eighth day, Villec and his fellow hikers will start their final uphill climb around midnight and ascend to the top in the early hours of the morning for sunrise. Then, they will hike a few thousand feet down the mountain, sleep for the night and finish their descent to the entry of the park the next day.
Villec eclipsed the B+ Foundation’s minimum fundraising goal of $6,000 several months ago. Donations will be accepted until Monday, July 7, to reach the $25,000 goal. To donate, go to www.beposfdn.org/Kili2025/partpage.aspx?participantid=276656.
