PASSIONATELY PINK
Firefighters launch annual campaign to help battle cancer
COHOES, N. Y. » For the fifth year in a row, members of Uniformed Firefighters of Cohoes Local 2562 are raising money for breast cancer awareness.
City firefighters recently kicked off their fifth annual Passionately Pink campaign with pre- order Tshirt and sweatshirt sales, and will officially kick off the campaign Sept. 29 at 3 p. m. at the Central Fire station to donate $ 2,000 from last year’s fundraising to the Livestrong program and ToLife. Org.
On top ofmaking the usual annual donations to the cancer organizations, this year firefighters decided to have this year’s back shirt designmade by Senior JaiseGilbert fromthe Cohoes City School District. Gilbert will be receiving $ 1 for every unit sold towards a scholarship which will be awarded at his Senior Awards Night.
“We’re looking to do this as a yearly event now with the school district,” said Cohoes firefighter Rob Wattsman, who has been involved with the organization of the campaign for a few years now. “Every summer of that year a senior would be chosen to help design the shirt and they would get the scholarship of their senior year.”
The fire union started the campaign years ago since they have seen members and their families suffer through the disease and they want to continue to try to support themin any way possible.
“Every year we keep selling more and more, and the goal is for us to raise asmuchmoney so we can try to find a cure for this terrible disease,” said Wattsman. “One wife of a firefighter had breast cancer so that kind of hit home a couple of years ago and the fire chief’s secretary is also a survivor.”
Firefighter Chris White, who joined the department in August, said that it was important for him to step up and participate in this campaign.
“Being the newguy, Iwanted to make sure that I stepped up and wanted to make sure that I get involved because I know how important this campaign is for fire departments,” said White. “The biggest thing that I’m looking forward to about this is the community and getting to knowmore people in the community.”
The short- sleeve shirts will be available for $ 15 and can be purchased starting Sept. 29 at the department’s Central Station at 25 Central Ave., as well as LePage’s Market, 342 N. Mohawk St.; Marra’s Pharmacy, 217 Remsen St.; Joe’s Tavern, 16 Division St.; and Spindles on Remsen, 241 Remsen St.