INDEPENDENCE, OR – This week, fire fighters and paramedics across Polk County will substitute their traditional uniforms with bright pink shirts to show their support for the fight against breast cancer.

Personnel from both Polk County Fire District No.1 and Dallas Fire & EMS are taking part in the fund raiser. The agencies expect to raise around $800 for Susan G Komen but say it isn’t just about the money.

“This is about showing the people we serve that we really do care,” said Captain Mike Rusher whose life has been affected by breast cancer. “The shirts say we ‘care enough to wear pink’ for a reason, it’s hard to get dozens of fire fighters and paramedics to wear pink, but we care enough to swallow our pride and do it.”

Polk County Professional Fire Fighters, the union that represents the full time fire fighters and paramedics for the agencies, paid the costs associated with making art work and getting the shirts printed. The shirts were then sold to volunteers and career personnel with the agencies.