The region’s firefighting community will join friends and family of Donovan Eckhardt on Friday to honor the Renton firefighter who died of cancer in August.

Firefighting agencies from throughout South King County – including all Renton fire stations – will gather at 10 a.m. at the Renton fire department’s headquarters on Lind Avenue for a procession to the New Life Church on the Renton-Maple Valley Highway.

Eckhardt’s memorial service is at 1 p.m. at the church, 15711 152nd Ave. S., Renton, just off the Maple Valley Highway.

Eckhardt, 37, of Gig Harbor died at his home  after his fight against cancer.

He is survived by his wife Jamie and their son William and newborn daughter. He graduated with honors from Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif., and earned his associates degree in Fire Science from Santa Ana Community College in Southern California.

After graduating from the 126th Basic Fire Academy in Santa Ana, Eckhardt worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildland firefighter in the Deschutes National Forest in Bend, Ore.

In December 2008 Eckhardt and 10 other firefighters graduated from the City of Renton Fire & Emergency Services Department first in-house, fire-training academy. He joined the department in September of that year.

“From day one Donovan gave his best to our community,” said Renton Fire Chief Mark Peterson. “He earned the trust and respect of all he came into contact with. Donovan’s courage and the way he approached his illness was an inspiration to me and the members of the department.”

Before he died, Eckhardt and fellow firefighters talked about a way to help first responders who are battling a terminal disease. The result is the non-profit Lionhardt created in Eckhardt’s honor, which raises money through donations and fund-raising events. The website is www.lionhardt.org.

Firefighters from the South King County and the Eastside will staff all of Renton’s fire stations so that Renton’s firefighters can attend the memorial service, according to Battalion Chief Brian Carson with the Kent Regional Fire Authority.

The 5 1/2-mile procession will take Lind Avenue and Grady Way to the downtown Renton Station 11, where Eckhardt was stationed, and then on to the church.