NCFPD uses pins to bring awareness to breast cancer

During the month of October, firefighters with North County Fire Protection District are sporting pink ribbons as they perform their duties in order to bring awareness to breast cancer.

“October is breast cancer awareness month, and it seems that everyone knows someone that has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Matt Lindsey, spokesperson for the Fallbrook Firefighters Association. “Someone is diagnosed with breast cancer every 69 seconds.”

Lindsey has a personal investment in bringing awareness to breast cancer.

“My aunt succumbed to the disease six years ago,” said Lindsey. “As a department, we bring awareness to disease and injury prevention, so this was fitting.”

The association has purchased ribbons for the firefighters to wear on their uniforms as a public way to show support for breast cancer awareness, as well as help remind people to donate to cancer research.

“We have also been given 200 pamphlets by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, so if people want to ask questions or find out more, we can direct them to the right source for information. We can give them information about breast cancer awareness and help them find places throughout San Diego that offer breast cancer screenings for both insured and uninsured individuals.”

The association had been thinking of a strategy to help raise breast cancer awareness for several months, said Lindsey.

“It was something that we wanted to do, so we began talking to the right people, purchased the pins and got the pamphlets into all of our engines, ambulances and administration buildings,” he stated. “Now, if we are out and about and people ask about pins, we can talk to them about why we’re wearing them and are more than happy to distribute content on the disease.”

The firefighters seem proud to wear their pink ribbons, especially if it means that residents of the Fallbrook community are able to learn more about breast cancer.

“Everyone is on board with wearing the ribbons,” stated Lindsey. “Breast cancer is one of those circumstances in where everyone knows someone that has suffered from it, whether it has been a family member or friends of family. We are all on board as a department to bring awareness and remind people to get checked for the disease.”

For more information on the Fallbrook Firefighters Association, go to http://www.fallbrookfirefighters.org.

For more information on methods used by firefighters to bring breast cancer awareness, go to http://www.code3foracure.com.

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