FIRE ENGINE TRANSFORMED

Local businesses donate efforts to wrap reserve truck in lavender

For the past three years, Mentor firefighters have worn pink shirts in October to support breast cancer awareness, and many grow mustaches in “No Shave November” to highlight the prostate cancer battle.

But Mentor Fire Chief Robert Searles wanted to do more for those in the community and the firefighting fraternity that are affected by the disease.

So he asked Public Education Specialist Jerry Craddock to look into “wrapping” a reserve vehicle in pink.

“In my research, I did find quite a few pink fire engines in the country,” Craddock said. “But the problem I was having was, why should we only recognize breast cancer? We

“This is a cancer awareness tribute to those that are in the battle, those we have lost and those that have beat cancer.”

— Public Education Specialist Jerry Craddock

should recognize all of those that are affected by all types of cancers. The color that symbolizes all types of cancers is the color lavender. I really couldn’t find another lavender fire truck. I brought this information back to the fire chief; he said run with it, but we can’t have this be at the expense of our citizens.”

So he assembled a team from local businesses to assist. Avery Dennison developed a custom lavender wrap, and Visual Graphics and MC Sign Company provided the labor to install it at no cost to taxpayers.

“We met with the chief, and I think they honestly thought they were going to have to spend some

money to get this done,” said MC Sign President and CEO Tim Eippert. “Between the three companies, we’re donating the entire project. It’s really an awesome opportunity for all of us.”

More than 120 “man hours” went into the project last week to transform reserve fire engine 1154.

“Comfort 54” — the engine’s new name — will be available for signing at Mentor CityFest Aug. 24 and 25 behind Mentor Municipal Center, 8500 Civic Center Blvd. The vehicle remains available for service.

“This is a cancer awareness tribute to those that are in the battle, those we have lost and those that have beat cancer,” said Craddock, whose father died of liver cancer in 2000. His mother is a breast cancer survivor. “We will be offering all

affected by cancer the opportunity to write on the truck, giving their personal tribute.”

In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 1.7 million people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Firefighters have a 9 percent higher chance of developing cancer than the average person and a 16 percent higher risk of dying from it, Craddock said. He noted that Mentor Fire Department has lost two of its own to it, Matt Henk and Chris Bezzeg.

“We also know bittersweetly that Beachwood Fire Department Capt. Mike Palumbo’s death from cancer led to the Palumbo Act that finally has recognized firefighting as an occupational hazard that can lead to cancer and

will help warrant compensation, should a firefighter develop cancer,” he said. “Recently, the President of the United States signed a law that the Center for Disease Control is required to keep data on firefighters (volunteer to career) that develop cancer, and the CDC will take this data and work towards developing better occupational safeguards in the fire service.”

Searles expressed gratitude to all those who helped make Comfort 54 happen.

“The project hasn’t been officially announced and (we have) already had a request for the truck to go to an event in New Jersey,” he said.

The engine’s home will be station No. 5, 8467 Civic Center Blvd., and it is scheduled to be part of the CityFest parade at 10 a.m. Aug. 25.

BETSY SCOTT — THE NEWS-HERALD Mentor Fire Department has turned reserve engine 1154 into “Comfort 54,” a vehicle to raise cancer awareness. Public Education Specialist Jerry Craddock researched and coordinated the project.