Lisa Trigg
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
It’s called “Red Lights for the Headlights,” but the five fire trucks being featured during an upcoming breast cancer awareness event will be painted the pinkest of pinks.
The Terre Haute Fire Department will bring the Pink Heals Tour to Fairbanks Park on Sept. 2 as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
“We want to show that we support the women of the Wabash Valley in their battle with breast cancer,” said Glen Hall, one of the event organizers in Terre Haute Firefighters Local 758. “We want to say, ‘Get your checkups and breast exams every year.’”
The name Red Lights for the Headlights was suggested by Susan G. Komen Foundation, Hall said, and pink is the recognized color for breast cancer supporters.
“The humorous names bring fun to the event, and to people fighting a serious battle,” he said.
The event is free to the public, with apparatus from area fire departments expected along with games, a dunking booth and live music by Pale Horse and by Mark Cook & The Cookin’ Blues.
Food and drink will be provided by TK’s Sports Bar and Grill, and Dever Distributing will supply beverages and signage. All proceeds will be donated to the Komen Foundation.
The Pink Heals Tour will travel around the country August through October with firefighters in pink fire suits driving pink fire trucks to spread awareness and honor women battling cancer.
Hall said he first saw the Pink Heals Tour a couple of years ago when it came to Fishers. He began organizing this year’s Terre Haute event last fall, and learned in March that Terre Haute and Kokomo would be the only two stops in Indiana for the tour this year.
To have a large enough venue for the tour, Hall reserved Fairbanks Park, and began inviting area fire departments to attend and bring their equipment to show support for the cancer awareness effort. Many area sponsors have signed on to support the event, he said.
At the fundraiser, people can register to participate in the Oct. 2 Komen Wabash Valley Race for the Cure.
Last year, Hall organized a pink shirts fundraiser in which area firefighters wore pink T-shirts to show their support for women battling breast cancer. Hall said he plans to do that fundraiser again this year in October.
Anyone wanting more information about “Red Lights for the Headlights” can contact Hall at (812) 691-1338 or Billy Roberts at (812) 241-5203.
For more information on the Komen Race for the Cure, visit www.komen.org; or locally, call (812) 878-9455 or e-mail wvracecure@aol.com.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
