Professional fire fighters from across Ontario are setting aside their traditional garb for a few days in October for something a little more delicate. The fire fighters will be proudly wearing pink t-shirts to show their support for women's cancers as part of an initiative called Care Enough to Wear Pink.

A number of fire fighters were spotted in the colourful shirts Monday at the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) Fall Education Seminar at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls. Proceeds from the sale of the pink t-shirts during the seminar will be split between breast and ovarian cancer research.

A number of affiliated local fire fighter associations in the province have also been participating in their own campaigns as well, with proceeds from sales of the pink shirts going to charities that support women with cancer and conduct research into womens' cancers.

"Cancer is a problem that fire fighters know too well, due to its links with our profession" said OPFFA President Fred LeBlanc. "But we also know cancer affects many more Ontarians, and we're setting aside some time to show support for women who are battling cancer and to raise funds for cures for women's cancers."

Ontario fire fighters aren't alone in sporting the colour in support of women's cancers. The OPFFA was one of several affiliated fire fighter associations that submitted a joint resolution to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) 50th Convention recently in San Diego, California.

The resolution was adopted by delegates representing 300,000 professional fire fighters across North America, and as a result, professional fire fighters in departments across the continent are donning pink in support of women and the fight against breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other cancers affecting women.

"No, it's not a colour we usually wear," LeBlanc said. "But Ontario's professional fire fighters care enough about the women of Ontario to do this. We're proud to make this gesture and to take up the fight against women's cancers."

Fred LeBlanc,
President, OPFFA
fleblanc@opffa.org

 

Press Release: Ontario Fire Fighters Care Enough to Wear Pink