Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Babb

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.

IAFF Memorial Wall honoring FF/PM Kevin Oldham

By Tina Johansson

WAUKEGAN — It’s hard not to miss the striking purple International Association of Fire Fighters insignia on the Waukegan Firefighters IAFF Local 473 Facebook page: “In Memory Of Kevin D. Oldham, 1977-2011.”

The purple symbol on the Web page is a reminder that Waukegan firefighter Oldham, 33, died in March after a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer.

On Sept. 17, Oldham’s family members and firefighters attended a memorial service in Colorado Springs, Colo., where they saw for the first time Oldham’s name engraved on a wall of honor.

Five members of the Waukegan Fire Department, including Chad Gonwa, Doug Camarato, Jeremy Brown, Tom Clasen and Rob Schmidt, as well as Oldham’s wife Katie of Pleasant Prairie, Wis. and his parents, Theresa and Dan Oldham of Grayslake, attended the memorial located in the shadow of Pike’s Peak.

Oldham’s name is among 87 other firefighters and emergency medical personnel this year who died in the line of duty. His name joins Waukegan firefighter Franklin Mercer who perished in a structure fire in 1985. Mercer’s name was placed on the wall in 2003.

“While seeing Kevin’s name on the memorial wall reinforced the reality of my loss and the loneliness that I have for my husband, I was truly proud that his memory would forever be honored there,” said Katie Oldham. “Kevin truly loved being a paramedic/firefighter. He had told me that having to quit that job was almost as hard for him as being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“I love that I will have such a special place to bring my girls to show them how their Daddy was and is remembered,” she said.

The memorial created in 1976 features close to 2,500 names of fallen IAFF members.

“Going there (to the memorial), brought back so many memories and stories about my son. I was glad the (Waukegan) firefighters were there,” said Theresa Oldham. “He really touched a lot of people during his lifetime. I wasn’t sure how it was going to feel or be like. It was a proud moment, but it was bittersweet.”

When a firefighter’s name was read at the ceremony, a bell would ring. “It’s so nice that his name will always be on that wall. No one will forget him,” said Theresa. “He was a great guy. Everybody loved him,” she added about her only son. Theresa and Dan have two daughters, Jennifer and Kelly.

The Oldhams and the Waukegan firefighters joined about 500 others in attending the event, which included a reception dinner and breakfast the following morning.

“The Colorado firefighters who put this on were outstanding. They were just a class act,” said Theresa.

Gonwa explained that although Oldham died from pancreatic cancer, “(Cancer) is considered ‘a line of duty death’ in Illinois. It is presumptive here because of everything we’re exposed to.”

In fact, Oldham’s mother said when her son could no longer work as a firefighter — something he loved doing — he would give talks through the nonprofit “Code 3 For A Cure Foundation” to area firefighters and emergency medical workers about the toxic dangers of structure fires.

“That was the message he wanted to give to them,” said Theresa.

Local communities rallied to help out the Oldhams during their difficult time last year. Among the fund-raisers was a spaghetti dinner at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waukegan where the couple was married, and an event at Warren Township High School in which the school wrestling group collected $7,000.