By Jocelyn Colbert |Staff Writer|
Welcome to the month of pink!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease and people are showing their support nationwide.
People can be seen sporting pink everywhere this month. Even the National Football League players are wearing pink shoes, headbands, wristbands and pink patches on their jerseys to show support.
Locally, the Redlands Fire Department is happily showing their support. Redlands firefighters have swapped their blue t-shirts for pink ones during the month of October in recognition of BCAM.
I made my way to the city of Redlands to meet and greet the firefighters of Fire Station No. 1 to get an insight on why they are so proactive about supporting the cause.
As soon as I knocked on the door of the fire station, a loud, blaring fire truck raced out of the back of the building. I got nervous at first because no one came to the door. I thought all the firemen received a call and were leaving!
To my relief, a friendly face appeared at the door. It was Lorenzo Rocha, smiling and donning his pink shirt. I asked him to give me the exposé on the pink-shirted men of the fire station and why they are supporting the cause.
“We started [sporting pink] about three years ago to do something for the community,” said Rocha.
Did you know you could own your own pink firefighter tee? The public can also purchase a Redlands Fire Department pink t-shirt up until Nov. 1 at the Redlands Fire Administration office.
The cost of the shirt is $20 with all profits going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
“Aside from the Komen Foundation, we also sell extra shirts. The extra money goes to a fund for fire-families. Supporting this cause is important to us because we love our community and we’re here to serve and be there for our community,” said Rocha.
I had to ask if the men of the fire station were having problems with wearing pink. “Oh no, we love it. It’s for a good cause so we are happy to wear pink,” said Rocha.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a site to inform the public about what they can do for the cause. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to detect the disease in its early stages.
The Redlands firefighters are active in showing their support for their community.
What can you do to help?
There are many ways to help support our brave women and men impacted by the disease.
Encourage those in your lives to create an Early Detection Plan and invite others to do the same. Get screened to detect the disease because early detection is the key to saving thousands of lives.
Get involved in a fundraiser in your area to provide mammograms for women in need and a biopsy for men. Donate, fundraise, and volunteer for our women and men to show your support. Together, we can overcome breast cancer.
As quoted by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, “Every woman needs to know the facts. And the fact is, when it comes to breast cancer, every woman is at risk.”