The Vallejo visit is part of the national "Pink Heals Tour," Vallejo Fire Capt. Cliff Campbell said. The tour consists of firefighters from various cities who travel around the country in pink fire engines and a pink bus.
The firefighters planned an 11 a.m. visit to the Vallejo Charter School at 432 Del Sur St. where three students have cancer, Campbell said. There also will be two visits to the homes of cancer patients.
This afternoon, between 3 and 8 p.m., the firefighters and their trucks will be at the parking lot of the Gateway Plaza at 105 Plaza Drive in Vallejo, where a raffle will be held and "Pink Heals" national tour T-shirts will be available for sale.
The events will raise money to help women without insurance get mammograms, Campbell said.
"All the money stays in the local community we visit," Campbell said.
Money raised in the national tour is also used to buy wigs for cancer patients and assist patients with medical bills, Campbell said.
Campbell has been part of the Solano County chapter of Pink Heals for the past six months. The Vacaville Fire Department donated a fire engine that will be painted pink in the near future, Campbell said.
Pink Heals was founded in 2007 and has conducted its U.S. tour since 2008, Campbell said. Campbell said he hopes to join the national tour next year.
Cancer patients and survivors are invited to sign the three pink engines and bus that are on the national tour.
"We want to inspire communities to start their own Pink Heals chapter," Campbell said.
Campbell likened the Pink Heals fundraisers to women's contributions to the country's war efforts while men were fighting oversees.
"Women supported the war efforts at home. If we take care of our women, they take care of us and we take care of the community," Campbell said.
