Real Oak Lawn Firefighters Wear Pink

Oak Lawn’s bravest are wearing pink this week in a show of solidarity with breast cancer patients and their families, as well as those who have succumbed to the disease.

Through the end of this week, members of the Oak Lawn Professional Firefighters Association Local 3405 will be selling the custom pink t-shirts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which falls in October.

“Many of our union members’ families have been affected by all different kinds of cancer, including breast cancer,” OLFD Lt. Vince Griffin said, vice-president of Local 3405. “We’re trying to support people who support us in the community. It’s only right for us to give back.”

Proceeds from the shirts—which sell for $15—will go toward Advocate Christ’s Cancer Institute and Center for Breast Care in Oak Lawn for development and purchase of education materials for cancer patients. The firefighters’ union hopes to raise $3,000 to donate to the center.

The custom pink duty shirts feature the OLFD logo on the front, and on a breast-cancer awareness design on the back.

Oak Lawn firefighters are selling the shirts this Friday, Oct. 12, at the Advocate Christ Center for Breast Care in Oak Lawn. The firefighters will also be taking part in a ceremony in which some 3,000 tulip bulbs will be planted in honor of all those whose lives have been touched by cancer at the center.

In the spring, after the flowers have bloomed, the bulbs will be unearthed and given to those who purchased them, according to an Advocate Christ press release. Unclaimed bulbs will be distributed to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients for planting in their personal gardens.

“For cancer survivors, newly diagnosed patients and families, the flowers that sprout from the bulbs represent hope and courage,” said Peggy Kupres, RN BSN, coordinator of survivorship and external relations for the Cancer Institute, and an 11-year breast cancer survivor. “Just as the bulbs must survive the winter in order to bloom, so patients must go through oftentimes difficult treatments before they can blossom in freedom from cancer.”

Bruno Galatte Landscape of Tinley Park, donated the tulip bulbs for the ceremonial plantings.

More information about Advocate Health Care’s fight against breast cancer is available on Advocate’s Facebook page.

Read more about breast cancer awareness and care on Patch.

Local residents are welcome to attend the Christ Medical Center tulip bed dedication, which is being held on the grounds of the Center for Breast Care, 4545 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12. Oak Lawn firefighters will be selling the pink duty shirts for $15.