Pink Fire Truck to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

A Prince George’s County fire crew traded its traditional fire truck red for pink to help increase awareness about breast cancer.

“Two-hundred fifty thousand people will be diagnosed this year, and we know that in time 40,000 of those will die,” Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor said. “So we hope to raise awareness and reduce those numbers by having our fire truck out there running calls.”

The idea for a pink fire engine was the brainchild of firefighters, looking to spread the message in a unique way.

“Even if people just look at it and say, Why is it pink? And then we can explain to them,” firefighter Rebecca Richardson said. “The Health Department has provided us with fact sheets to hand out in the community, so that anybody that comes to us with questions about it can get information.”

The materials and labor to wrap the truck in a pink sticker was donated, and Adam Blackman had good reason for donating the wrap: More than a dozen women in his family have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Firefighter Marshall Moneymaker – the so-called pink firefighter, who lost three sisters to breast cancer within a two-year period – attended the unveiling.

“It’s a huge awareness tool,” he said. “How can you miss a pink fire truck going down the road.”

Many of the firefighters throughout the county will be wearing pink shirts under their protective gear for Breast Cancer Awareness month to raise money and awareness to fight the disease.

To purchase your own pink T-shirt to benefit the effort, click here.

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