First responders get day of recognition at Colonial tournament

This time last year, Fort Worth police officer Matthew Pearce was in a wheelchair after being hit by five bullets while on duty in March. He had seven gunshot wounds, and his doctors initially gave him a 15 percent chance of surviving.

Today Pearce is walking on his power and recovering well.

“Here I am almost 15 months later, walking around and doing what I’d normally do,” Pearce said.

Pearce and fellow officer Brandi Kamper, along with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, were at the 17th fairway Thursday in an effort to raise awareness for 9-year-old Hallie Barnard (Hallie Bea), who has Diamond Blackfan Anemia — a rare blood disorder that requires a bone-marrow transplant.

More than 400 first responders joined them.

“It feels really good when people recognize us for what we do,” Pearce said. “I think a lot of people think I’m crazy for wanting to go back to work after nearly dying, but I think they’re crazy for thinking that I wouldn’t go back.”

Hallie Bea, who is being sponsored by the Fort Worth Police Department, spent time posing for photos with Price, Pearce, Kamper and other volunteers. People came by the tent and registered to take a swab to help find a bone-marrow match for her.

First Financial Bank coordinated the event for the second-straight year. President and CEO Scott Dueser says it is all for a good cause.

“We’re big at backing the blue wherever we are,” Dueser said. “We have 400 first responders and 200 customers here. Our first responders are treated like royalty — it doesn’t cost them a dime. We pick up their tab and they can do whatever they want to do, it’s their day.”

This story was originally published May 25, 2017 at 5:38 PM with the headline "First responders get day of recognition at Colonial tournament."