Pink Heals Chicagoland Hosting Fundraiser to Bring Leslie Home
Pink Heals Chicagoland will host its Bring Leslie Home Fundraiser at Tivoli Bowl on Saturday, October 19th from 2-5 p.m. Proceeds from the family event will be used to help bring Leslie, the pink fire truck to her new home in the Downers Grove area.
Pink Heals Chicagoland, which has been started by Downers Grove paramedic/firefighter Joel Mains, is part of a national program called the Guardians of the Ribbons Pink Heals Tour. The not-for-profit organization was initiated to support women battling any type of cancer. Pink fire trucks and police cars are driven across the country, bringing the Cares Enough to Wear Pink Movement. Funds raised through sales of T-shirts and other merchandize, support women within the individual communities. In addition to raising money, the trucks serve as a moving remembrance to people who have or are currently battling cancer. Thousands of people have signed the Pink Heals trucks. Pink Heals also coordinates home visits. Friends or family members can contact Pink Heals to visit a loved one currently engaged in the battle against cancer, or having completed a fight against the disease. The pink fire trucks pull up to the home and the firemen, all dressed in pink, deliver hugs, flowers and emotional support.
Mains, who for the past several years has used much of his vacation time from the fire department, volunteering for the national Pink Heals Tour, decided earlier this year to launch a local chapter of the organization. “This movement is too important to wait for the Pink Heals National Tour to come into our area once a year or so. This is especially true when we consider how many people are stricken by this terrible disease within our own community. We want to be able to have an impact here,” he said. The national movement has offered Leslie, a truck that has been on the national tour, to be used by Pink Heals Chicagoland. The Bring Leslie Home Fundraiser will help cover the costs of transporting Leslie here.
Tickets to the fundraiser will be available at the door. Tivoli Bowl is located at 938 Warren Avenue in Downers Grove. The cost is $20/person for 2.5 hours of bowling including shoe rental. Raffle and silent auction items will include a cooking class with the chef from Parker's Restaurant, a scuba diving instruction package, a Caribou Coffee gift basket and more.
Pink Heals Chicagoland is seeking donations of money and items for raffle/auction. For additional information call Joel Mains at 847-224-3354 or Wendy Foster at 630-290-9237 or visit www.pinkhealschicagoland.org.