Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Those attending this year’s Fire Rescue Conference will have an opportunity to meet Miss South Carolina USA, Sarah Weishuhn, who has joined the CODE 3 FOR A CURE (C3FAC) cause in its ongoing efforts to fight the war on firefighter cancer.
Says Ms. Weishuhn; “I am so honored to stand behind and give my full support to Code 3 For A Cure. As a daughter of a throat cancer survivor, as well as a daughter of a past firefighter, this organization is incredibly close to my heart. These men and women risk their lives on a moment’s notice and I am in awe of their unfailing strength. I wish all the best to these firefighters and this incredible organization on their mission to assist firefighters across the nation who are battling cancer.”
Miss South Carolina will make an appearance at the Conference on Thursday, June 11, at 12:15 p.m. at the C3FAC Booth, # HF8. She will be manning the booth alongside other firefighter warriors, including Captain Brock Terry (Hampton Fire Department). Captain Terry will present Ms. Weishuhn with the C3FAC Fire Helmet of Hope & Honor that she will autograph in support of C3FAC. There will be many items at the booth for purchase, such as C3FAC T-Shirts and Dog Tags, to raise funds for the C3FAC cause. The C3FAC team will also be recruiting firefighter athletes to join the cause.
“We are honored to welcome Miss South Carolina USA to the team,” says Lorenzo Abundiz, President & Founder of C3FAC. “She is a true Fire Warrior of hope & honor because she is working to call attention to the alarming rate of cancer among firefighters, as well as the C3FAC cause to support firefighters who are battling the disease.”
ABOUT C3FAC:
The Code 3 for a Cure Foundation was formed by Lorenzo Abundiz, Medal of Valor recipient and survivor of three cancer battles all caused by his firefighting career. After his own personal battles with cancer and witnessing many of his comrades suffer and die from this terrible disease, Lorenzo was compelled to fight back.
On June 13, 2008, Lorenzo and his firefighter team launched the first C3FAC mission of hope & honor across America from Los Angeles Memorial Fire Station 27. Now each year, Lorenzo, along with a team of firefighter cancer survivors, both active and retired, drive a fire engine across America to share their personal cancer stories with fellow firefighters in order to encourage early cancer screenings.
On the fire engine is an empty seat where they carry the memorial fire bell of hope & honor. The empty seat signifies the loss of a firefighter to cancer. Throughout each mission, the team collects the names of firefighters across America who have died from cancer and they perform a fire bell ceremony for them after each mission. The C3FAC team also responds to terminally ill firefighters who request to go on their last call aboard the CODE 3 fire engine to share their story in hopes they will help save a brother or sister from cancer. A major aspect of the Foundation’s purpose is to provide financial assistance on a nationwide basis to firefighters battling cancer who are facing a financial hardship.
CANCER LINKED TO FIREFIGHTING
Numerous studies have proven that, despite the protective gear firefighters wear during firefighting operations, their risk of being diagnosed with cancer is greater than the general population. Based on the causal link between firefighting and cancer, many assume firefighters are well taken care of when diagnosed; yet all too often quite the opposite is true. Since C3FAC was formed, there have been many financial assistance applications presented containing stories of firefighters who are struggling to get the proper medical care they need, stay on top of mounting medical bills, afford fuel costs to get to and from their treatments, keep their homes, and continue to support their families.
For more information go to www.code3foracure.org
