Cindy Speer, left, poses with her daughter, Ashley Began, right, after receiving her Hometown Hero award. Submitted photo

After almost 25 years of working in emergency medical services and with a passion for helping her community, 57-year-old Cindy Speer called receiving a Hometown Hero award a great honor.

“I dedicate a lot of time to make sure the ambulance goes out the door to help someone in need,” Speer said. “I feel very blessed that the folks that provided me with this award recognized me as someone who makes a difference.”

She was presented the award Aug. 1 by the Portersville/Prospect Rotary Club.

A mother of seven children and grandmother to three granddaughters, Speer was born and raised in Portersville. She dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, as she grew up on her family’s dairy farm where they bottled and sold their own milk, and would show cows and horses at various local fairs.

She now helps people instead. Her career in emergency services began as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. She worked in both fields for awhile before settling on becoming a full-time emergency medical technician.

Whatever calls come into 911, Speer responds to deliver medical care to the best of her abilities to a wide range of injuries and situations. While some calls are easier to handle than others, she thanks her family and community for their constant support to help her through even the toughest times.

“Not all days are good days but with the help of others we can make a difference,” Speer said. “It takes more than one person to help out the community, but when someone you may not ever see again or a family member you have known for years says thank you for your help, it makes you feel like you have made a difference that day.”

The love and passion Speer holds for her community extends into her family as well. It was her daughter, Ashley Began, and Ashley’s siblings who chose to nominate their mother for this award.

“She has shown me what it means to be there for the community. Cindy lives, eats, and sleeps EMS. She will give up all her free time to be there for the community,” Began said while speaking about her mother. “She has the biggest heart. She will be there at the drop of a hat to help people in need and gives her heart and soul to Portersville EMS.”

Began, a 35-year-old from Portersville, is a pre-kindergarten teacher at Slippery Rock Parks and Recreation Department and enjoys her time teaching, spending time with her daughter, Madalyn, and the rest of her family. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and joined EMS as well, and says the pair usually end up as partners on the ambulance.

“I was very lucky to be there to see her receive her award. She did know about it and was very surprised and shocked that she was the winner. I, of course, knew there was no one else better for the award. She is so very thankful and she was very emotional, because Portersville EMS has her heart,” Began said.

Speer said she felt blessed that her children nominated her.

“I gave up many birthdays, holidays and events in order to do this job. Without the support of my family I could not do it,” Speer said.

Began said emergency medical services “runs in their blood,” and wants to ensure that EMS workers are recognized for the work they do on a daily basis.

“It is not an easy profession and it takes a special person to do it. My mother is the perfect person; she is compassionate, caring, and she has a ton of knowledge. I am very lucky to have such an awesome role model, and her grandchildren are also very lucky,” she said. “They hear the sirens and they know their Nana is off to save peoples lives,”

As for Speer, it is the love of her family that makes her job worth it.

“To go home and see my family after a day at work makes it all worth it,” she said. “Everyone needs to remember tomorrow is never promised so you should always tell your loved ones you love them.”

Cindy Speer, left, and Nathan Blackwood were selected by the Portersville/Prospect Rotary as Hometown Heroes. Submitted photo