Firefighters don pink to raise cancer awareness

From front left, Bill Eggers, assistant fire chief Ron Lepchuk, Lieut. Peter Hyne, Mike Rispin and deputy fire chief Craig Richardson, along with Nanaimo Fire Rescue members, will all be wearing pink T-shirts during the month of October to raise money and awareness for breast cancer as well as cancer associated with fighting fires.

Toby Gorman photo

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Nanaimo Fire Rescue members are man enough to wear pink, especially when it raises money and awareness for breast cancer.

Lieut. Peter Hyne organized the effort, which will see all firefighters wear pink T-shirts during the month of October, while raising about $1,300 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“The money came entirely from our members buying shirts,” said Hyne. “We feel it’s important because it raises awareness for cancer in general, and we all go home at the end of the day to our own families, and some of us face issues at home that deal with cancer.”

The T-shirts also represent the fight against cancer some firefighters face as a result of being exposed to carcinogens while on the job, he added.

Firefighters across Canada and the U.S. will be wearing pink T-shirts in October to support the cause as part of their efforts to find a cure for the disease.

Among Canadian women, breast cancer continues to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer with an estimated 23,200 new cases diagnosed in 2010.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among women and takes the lives of approximately 5,400 people annually.

“Everybody from top to bottom was on board right away, 100 per cent,” said Hyne.

To make a donation, please visit www.cbcf.org or phone 604-683-2873.