By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Council given pink Ts in breast cancer awareness push
Firefighters aim to raise $10,000 to fight breast cancer
IMG 4327
Gathered at last weeks Ceres City Council meeting were: (in front row, left to right), Mike Lillie, Billy Finley, Bryan Nicholes, Dominic Magagnini, Jeff Serpa; (in back row), Eric Holly, Councilman Mike Kline, Vice Mayor Ken Lane, Councilmen Eric Ingwerson and Bret Durossette, John Gomes, Josh Cummings, Greg Selvera, Mayor Chris Vierra, Chris Steenburgh, Juan Montes, Dave Steenburgh and Jason Cripe. - photo by JEFF BENZIGER/Courier photo

Pink T-shirts were given to members of the Ceres City Council last week by Ceres firefighters who are doing what they can to raise awareness and raise a target goal of $10,000 to help battle breast cancer.

Thirteen members of the Ceres Fire Department dropped in to explain to the council what activities are involved for the month of October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ceres Firefighters Local #3636 are donning pink T-shirts on the job as well as selling them to help promote breast cancer awareness and fundraising. Pink T-shirts for both men and women are being sold for $15 at the Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth Street, LaMorenita Restaurant at 1667 Hatch Road; at River Oaks Golf Course, 3441 Golf Links Road, or at Embroidery Plus, 2415 Lawrence Street, Suite A.

The department is also sporting five-foot large pink ribbon decals on both sides of fire engines and ladder trucks during the month.
Along with city workers and police officers, firefighters are teaming up with the Ceres Unified School District and the Ceres Chamber of Commerce in competitions that call attention to breast cancer. Firefighters and city workers are also be wearing pink ribbons, displaying ribbons on their assigned vehicles, or participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

Firefighters have two Facebook photo challenges for the community. One is with the businesses where the best photo of a staff can compete for a lunch at La Morenita. The other is among the schools where the most creative and best participation photo will win a trophy delivered by the fire department. Entries may be emailed to cambria.pollinger@ci.ceres.ca.us. They will then be posted to the Ceres Recreation Facebook page.

Firefighters wore their pink shirts in their version of the Coffee With A Cop when they hosted a "Froyo with a Firefighter" event at Supermom's Frozen Yogurt on Saturday. The event was designed to allow the public to meet Ceres firefighters, be shown tours of the engines and equipment, ask questions about fire, medical, and life safety issues, and selling the pink shirts. Twenty percent of the night's proceeds were donated to cancer research.

Firefighters also participated in Monday's fundraiser at La Morenita Restaurant where they were waiters. The eatery donated 20 percent of to the Bill and Elsie Ahlem Cancer Endowment when customers presented a fundraiser flyer.

Ceres Firefighters are teaming up with EXIT Realty Consultants to put on an annual Drive-Thru Barbecue on Tuesday, Oct. 29 between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The food will be available for pick-up in the parking lot of EXIT Realty, 1768 Mitchell Road, Ceres. Tickets may be pre-ordered at any EXIT office or at Ceres Fire Station #1 on Third Street and are $10 per person or $35 for a family pack. The meal includes tri-tip beef or chicken, potato salad, beans, roll and a soft drink. Proceeds will go to the Bill & Elsie Ahlem Cancer Endowmen at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock.

Sponsors of the fundraiser include Alfonso's Mexican Grill and Food-4-Less.

Breast cancer affects one in eight women during the course of their lives.