Firefighters around the region want to raise money for breast cancer along with their other duties this month. Several local fire departments have authorized firefighters to sport pink shirts during the month of October, which is the national breast cancer awareness month. And some departments are also selling shirts to raise funds for cancer research.
In Fairfax County, fire and rescue personnel will be wearing pink shirts from Oct. 17 to 21, the second year the department has participated in the awareness initiative, spokesman Dan Schmidt said. He said the department got involved after the International Association of Firefighters took on breast cancer as a major cause. The association began partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure this year on fundraising, awareness and education campaigns.
“We’re kind of following suit and wanting to support it at our local level,” Schmidt said.
Departments like Alexandria are selling shirts to raise money.
The Alexandria Fire Department says members will be wearing pink all month. Money from shirt purchases by the public is donated to the Alexandria Breast Cancer Walk Fund, which pays for uninsured women to receive mammograms and other diagnostic tests.
People can buy shirts at the fire station at 317 Prince St.
In Maryland, Howard County firefighters are also selling shirts, which can be ordered online at iafflocal2000.org. The department says that it raised more than $12,000 last year to help families who need help paying for breast-cancer-related expenses.
“We each know someone, even members of our own department, who have had a bout with cancer or whose families have battled breast cancer,” Chief William Goddard said. “This initiative gives us a visible opportunity to shed light on this deadly disease.”
