BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County employees and officials are rallying behind one of their own: Sheriff John Kirk who is battling pancreatic cancer.

About 50 people will wear t-shirts saying, “In this family no one fights alone.”

Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Patrick said the idea for the t-shirts came from the sheriff’s secretary Jennifer Jarrell.

“It’s to let him know he has our support,” Patrick said. “And if he needs anything, we’ll always be here for him.”

Kirk, sheriff since being elected in 2014, was diagnosed in February.