Pink Heals vehicles pull into Warwick on national tour

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 7/18/17

By MERI R. KENNEDY The 10th Annual National Pink Heals Tour pulled into Warwick Monday on its journey across America, which began on June 18 in Jackson, Fla. The tour's mission is to support people battling all types of cancer, not causes, through home

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Pink Heals vehicles pull into Warwick on national tour

Posted

The 10th Annual National Pink Heals Tour pulled into Warwick Monday on its journey across America, which began on June 18 in Jackson, Fla. The tour's mission is to support people battling all types of cancer, not causes, through home visits and to help leaders and businesses maintain fundraising dollars locally to support people in need.

The Rhode Island Chapter has four pink vehicles, which include a rescue, two police cars and a fire truck. When in their roles with the Pink Heals volunteer public safety members wear pink gear. Pink Heals uses the color bubble gum pink to represent love and families, not a specific disease. It is not just about breast cancer, but about all cancers.

On July 10, the National Pink Heals Tour made a stop at the Kent Hospital Breast Health Center and Fire Station 1 in Warwick. Members of the community, cancer survivors, family and friends made visits to both locations and could individually sign any of the vehicles. Some signed as they were battling cancer and some signed after they fought cancer. Some signed in memory of those lost to cancer.

“Having the National Tour come through Rhode Island is great for our chapter,” said Matthew Medeiros, Treasurer of the R.I. Chapter. He serves on the Central Coventry Fire Department. “It shows the community that this is a national organization that cares about its local chapters and they come here free of charge. All the money we raise in Rhode Island, stays in Rhode Island.”

According to their website, “The Pink Heals National Tour operates by the sale of merchandise, gifts and in-kind donations to maintain their vehicles, buy gas and travel across the country to visit individuals and share the program.  Tour drivers volunteer up to 21 days at a time to drive pink fire trucks and police cars across America and deliver the Pink Heals Program to communities.”

At their stops in communities along the way, the tour is joined by local Pink Heals chapters. Although each chapter is separate from the National Tour; they work together to raise awareness and support in every community they visit.

Pink Heals volunteers visit individuals facing cancer in their home, the hospital or at their place of work to honor their courage, foster hope, and provide them with the love and compassion they deserve. The National Tour will end on Nov. 4 in San Marcos, Texas.

While in Rhode Island, the National Tour included three trucks, an SUV, a ladder truck called Gunnerkids (geared for children and named after a 7-month-old boy who succumbed to cancer) and a Heavy Rescue.

“I personally joined Pink Heals because of my Mom,” said Medeiros. “When she was diagnosed with cancer, it was a very rare form that less than 1 percent of women get. There is no ribbon for her type and there was no organization that supported it, except Pink Heals. They support every type.”

Just one of Medeiros’s favorite times with the Rhode Island Pink Heals is when they go on flower deliveries.

“When we do flower deliveries, we show up at people houses in our pink fire trucks and police cars, all decked out in our pink gear.  It is awesome to see the joy on their faces,” said Medeiros.  “We go to let them know that we love them, support them, and they are not alone. We bring our members and many survivors to show them that they CAN beat this awful disease.”

According to the National Pink Heals website, “Pink Heals was created in 2007 by Dave Graybill, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, former athlete and retired fire fighter. He made it his life’s passion to partner with public safety and local businesses to give back to the community. When he formed the non-profit, Pink Heals, his idea to bring public safety officers together to fund raise and keep the money in their own community has grown exponentially. The program re-purposes fire trucks and other public safety vehicles to make home visits to people in need and support fund raising efforts at a local level. Individuals and businesses who use the Pink Heals program for fund raising are encouraged to keep the money local to support community members, local nonprofits and neighborhood initiatives.”

“Being a member of Pink Heals is so rewarding,” said Medeiros. “We go out to show love to men, women, and children battling cancer but I think the members get just as much from it than those we are visiting. I became a member of Pink Heals because they support all cancers.  There are too many types of cancer to only support one specific kind.”

The Rhode Island Chapter of Pink Heals is led by a Board of Directors: Christopher Seelenbrandt (President and West Warwick Firefighter), Matthew Medeiros (Treasurer and a Central Coventry Firefighter), Debra McAllister (Secretary who is from Coventry) and Christina Woodbine (Vice President who is from Warwick).

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here