Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a perfect opportunity to advocate for men and women in their fight against breast cancer. IAFF members get involved for many reasons – often it’s because they have been personally affected by the disease. Breast cancer is also a recognized occupational cancer for fire fighters.

This toolkit provides affiliates with tools and resources to help in your efforts to support this important cause, including videos, a sample press release, suggested tweets or posts and infographics to conduct campaigns in your community.

Also, don’t forget to send us your photos of your Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities so that we can promote them on IAFF social media using the hashtags #IAFFinPink or #firefightersinpink.

Contact [email protected] with any questions or for assistance with IAFF toolkits.

The Pink T-Shirt Contest

2021 Winner: Prince Georges County, MD Local 1619

As part of your fundraising effort in the fight against breast cancer and other cancers, the IAFF encourages affiliates to create (and most importantly, wear!) their own pink T-shirts to promote breast cancer awareness.

In addition to attracting attention, IAFF affiliates can sell these shirts at events, with the proceeds benefiting cancer charities of their choice. (Please note: All shirts and other breast cancer awareness merchandise must follow the IAFF Logo Policy.)

IAFF Pink T-Shirt Design Contest

Proud of your design? Submit it in the IAFF’s Annual Best Pink T-Shirt Design Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian affiliates starting October 1 and through November 1.

Infographics

Use these images (right click and “save” if on a desktop, press and hold to save to camera if on a phone), along with the suggested posts and tweets on social media.

Op-Ed for Local Media

Your local newspaper is a great resource to help brand your local as the community public safety advocate. These op-eds are designed for you to send to your newspaper’s editorial team to be included in their opinion section to highlight the importance of public safety, with your local president as the author. An op-ed is an especially useful tool for smaller papers, including neighborhood weekly services. Follow up to let them know you are available to answer any questions.

Breast Cancer Op-Ed

What is an op-ed? An op-ed stands for “opposite editorial” and is an opinionated article submitted to a newspaper for publication. They are written by members of the community and not journalists or reporters.

Tweets/Posts

Suggested Tweets or Posts:

  • [Your local] supports the fight against #breastcancer #IAFFinPink #breastcancerawareness​
  • October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join us in wearing pink to fight against #breastcancer #firefightersinPink
  • ​[Your local]. Fighting more than fires #breastcancerawarenessmonth #IAFFinPink #firefightersinPink
  • ​1 in 8 women will develop #breastcancer in their lifetime #IAFFinPink
  • ​Physical activity in the form of exercise can reduce breast cancer risk by as much as 10-20% #IAFFinPink
  • ​Remember to get an annual mammogram, especially if you are over the age of 40 #IAFFinPink #breastcancerawareness

​​Canadian Tweets/Posts:

  • Join IAFF locals across Canada this October by wearing pink to raise awareness for breast cancer. #IAFFinPink​ #firefightersinPink
  • ​Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian women. #breastcancerawareness #IAFFinPink​

Charities

For more than two decades, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has united communities in the fight against this deadly disease and funded breakthrough research, 24/7 support for breast cancer patients, and access to lifesaving screenings. Today, Making Strides is the largest network of breast cancer events in the nation. Visit the website to find out how to fundraise for this event.

In Canada, affiliates can help raise funds for breast cancer research through initiatives such as organizing pink T-shirt campaigns and hosting community fundraising events for breast cancer charities, including the Canadian Cancer Society. For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness Month initiatives in Canada, contact Sandy Hamamoto at [email protected] or go to the Canadian Cancer Society website.