Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Babb
BY DAN MORAN October 6, 2011
WAUKEGAN — Firefighters across Lake County and the nation are switching from blue to pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the International Association of Firefighters Charitable Foundation.
For the month of October, the IAFF is encouraging its members to switch from their traditional dark-blue T-shirts to a pink model to “give an image of hope and encouragement to those who fear being alone in their battle for life.”
“Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases of them all,” read an IAFF resolution announcing the “Passionately Pink for the Cure” effort. “We need to come together to fight it, which means more of us who haven’t been affected need to step up and lead the way. Therefore, firefighters will don pink to show women that we care enough to wear their color.”
Among those joining the cause is the Waukegan Fire Department, which has three female firefighters in its ranks and an entire department ready to don the shirts.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done anything like this at the fire department,” said Waukegan firefighter/paramedic Lauralea Thomas. “Through October, we’re going to drop the navy blue T-shirt and wear pink.”
Fire Chief Dan Young, who approved the use of the pink shirts as a temporary standard uniform, said plans are also in place to wear purple T-shirts next month to support Pancreatic Awareness Month in memory of Waukegan firefighter Kevin Oldham, who passed away earlier this year from the disease.
