East Pierce Fire and Rescue firefighters are participating in the national “Cares Enough to Wear Pink” campaign to bring awareness to all types of cancers that affect women.

The men and women at East Pierce will join firefighters across North America in wearing pink uniform shirts Oct. 25, 26 and 27 while on duty at the fire stations in Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps, Buckley, Prairie Ridge and Edgewood.

The event is sponsored by East Pierce Fire & Rescue and members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 3520.

“When we started this campaign, we thought it would be a small fundraiser, but I have been blown away by the support we have received at all levels,” Firefighter and project coordinator Matt Lowery said in a press release.

“The reality is that cancer touches all of our lives whether it’s a daughter, mother, sister, friend or neighbor. I am very proud of my fellow firefighters who have agreed to show their support by wearing pink. Many of the firefighters will be wearing shirts to honor family members and friends who have battled the disease,” he said.

Shirts are available for sale to the public for $15 at www.fired-upgraphics.com/CancerTepfr.html.

In addition, East Pierce firefighters and the local Safeway employees will be collecting donations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Bonney Lake Safeway at state Route 410 and 214th Avenue East.

Money raised from the sale of the shirts and the event at Safeway will be split between the Susan G. Komen Fund and the Fire Fighter Cancer Support Network.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 270,000 women will die from cancer in the United States this year alone. Early detection and diagnosis are key factors for cancer survival.