Firefighters 'go pink' - and so can you
On Sept. 23rd, the Pink Heals Tour came to Bartlett, and it exceeded the expectations of everyone involved.
Pink Heals is a group of firefighters driving two pink fire engines across the country from to raise awareness for women's cancer. Cancer survivors and the families of cancer patients are encouraged to sign the pink fire truck.
To see what was a blank, pink fire truck just 11 days prior and is now almost covered with signatures, speaks volumes about this disease. Bartlett was their eighth stop in 11 days with 23 more stops before returning home to Phoenix at the end of October.
Pink Heals founder Dave Graybill asks people to take a very simple yet powerful action, WEAR PINK. Furthermore, he asks that the proceeds from fundraising stay in the community.
In our case, the funds are being donated to Alexian Brothers Foundation Cancer Institute which operates a Breast Center in Bartlett.
For more information on the tour, go to pinkribbontour.com. For those interested in getting involved, it is not too late. On Friday, Oct. 2, everyone wore pink. That evening, at the Bartlett-South Elgin football game, the high schools were shooting for a "Pink Out".
T-shirts are still available at Fire Station One across from Eastview, and at Bannerman's Sports Bar. Furthermore, wear pink on Oct. 25-27. These three days the whole country is being asked to wear pink as a way of raising cancer awareness.
Wearing pink won't cure cancer, but it will help to raise the spirits of those battling cancer and those fortunate to have already beat this beast.
You may have noticed our firefighters got an early jump on this by wearing pink for the past two weeks. When you see them, don't be afraid to show your support for their effort. They will wear their pink shirts again on Oct. 25-27.
Finally, for all of those who gave their time selflessly, thank you for making this day such a huge success. You were instrumental in planting a seed for next year when we hope to make it bigger and better.
Trustee Jim McCarthy
Bartlett Fire Protection District