The members of the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department will be wearing pink shirts for the month of October to join the effort to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same.

Statistics show that every 2 minutes there is a new diagnosis of breast cancer. Every 14 minutes a life is lost to the disease. Over 40,000 people will die this year; about 400 of them will be men. 85% of all those diagnosed have no family history. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer; the leading cause of death in women between ages 40 and 55.

The Firefighters of the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department would like to remind every woman to have annual breast exams; to provide encouragement to those women who currently battle the disease; and remember those who have lost the battle with this disease.