Greenwich Firefighters Kick Off 'Proud to Wear Pink' Campaign

Greenwich’s bravest are getting ready to kick off their annual ‘Proud to Wear Pink’ campaign in support of breast cancer awareness and treatment.

Firefighter Tom Pitasi said this year’s campaign, with support from the Greenwich Professional Firefighters Local 1042, will be selling T-shirts, holding an awareness program in September and conducting a ‘Fill the Pink Boot’ campaign to raise money for the Breast Center at Greenwich Hospital and the Connecticut chapter of the Susan G. Komen Fund.

“There are several of us here who are personally affected by breast cancer — with wives dealing with breast cancer. For some of us it’s a lot more personal,” Pitasi explained.

The firefighters’ awareness and ‘Fill the Pink Boot’ campaigns will be held in conjunction with the Sept. 28 Breast Center’s annual tying of pink ribbons on trees along Greenwich Avenue. The effort also will include offering information about annual breast exams and mammograms, Pitasi said.

“We’re doing it the weekend before October which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Pitasi, who is co-chair of the firefighters effort with colleagues Dan Natale and Dennis Frulla.

As a prelude to the Sept. 28, the firefighters are taking orders for custom-made navy blue T- shirts with the union’s insignia and “Proud to Wear Pink” logo. The popular pink T-shirt from previous fund-raising efforts also will be available. Short-sleeved tees are $15; $20 for long-sleeves.  The shirts are being made by Game Sportswear LTD in Port Chester. 

Greenwich firefighters will be wearing the shirts throughout the month of October, Pitasi said. Firefighters also will be affixing custom pink logos on their helmets.

Previous campaigns between shirt sales and ‘Fill the Pink Boot’ have raised $6,000 to $7,000, Pitasi said. This year’s goal is $10,000.

Orders with checks, shirt size information, name and address may be mailed to Greenwich Professional Firefighters, PO Box 372, Greenwich, CT. 06836. For more information, you can email: pink@greenwichfire.org.