Pink Fire Trucks Roll Through Central Florida To Raise Cancer Awareness

A fleet of pink fire trucks will roll into the Orlando area this week to draw attention to the fight against cancer and raise valuable dollars for life-saving care and research. The pink fire trucks will be on display Friday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, 1400 S. Orange Ave., and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, 92 West Miller Street. The public is invited to stop by and sign the pink fire engines with messages of support in the fight against cancer.
 
The pink fire trucks are traveling the nation to spread cancer awareness as part of the “Pink Heals Tour.” The tour will be manned by professional firefighters in full pink gear who call themselves the “Guardians of the Ribbon.” The pink crew will share stories of hope as they visit with oncology patients at M. D. Anderson - Orlando and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
 
Local firefighters have partnered with Pink Heals for this free event, hosting fitness challenge games for children and adults, selling pink T-shirts and collecting donations, with proceeds to benefit M.D. Anderson - Orlando. Pink will be the color of the day. Local firefighters will sport pink and invite others to wear pink on September 17 to show support in the fight against cancer.
 
"M. D. Anderson - Orlando is honored to be a stop on the Pink Heals National Tour," said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of M. D. Anderson – Orlando. "This event will not only help us move closer to finding a cure but will also provide hope and support for Central Floridians battling this disease."
 
Additionally, the Pink Heals fleet of fire trucks will be deployed throughout the day at locations in Winter Park, Orlando and Reedy Creek. The final stop and grand finale is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Wall Street Plaza in downtown, where crews will park the five trucks for the closing celebration of the Central Florida tour. The evening will include more opportunities to sign the trucks, firefighter challenges and music.
 
 
“Saving lives and raising awareness about cancer is fundamental to the wellness of our community, so it will be our honor to wear our pink with pride and support this worthy cause,” adds Darrel McCrystal, vice president of Orange County Professional Fire Fighters Local 2057.
 
Editor’s note: Members of the news media are invited to join the Pink Heals crews as they visit patients at M.D. Anderson – Orlando and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. For media access contact Katie Dagenais with M. D. Anderson – Orlando