Pink Fire Truck

John Rigione is president of the Guardian of the Pink Ribbon Heals, Slate Belt Chapter. You can recognize them from their big, pink fire truck.

"We stand up for the women in our lives, not causes. The truck is pink because that's the color most synonymous with ladies. We raise community awareness. It's all about bringing awareness, hope, and support from the community, and anything that we do stays community related. We're a hundred percent volunteer--nobody's compensated."
"How did you get involved with the group?"
"In 2010, I had received news from my mother that she was afflicted by breast cancer. The national organization happened to be in town for our Labor Day parade. I was drawn to the pink truck, walked up, started asking some questions. The gentleman that was standing there put his arm around me like we'd known each other for years, walked me over to the truck, and assisted me in signing my mother's name to it and writing a message of support. They told me that those messages never come off; in time, they fade on their own. I started asking questions about how to be involved, and they had never had a volunteer firefighter on. Most other guys are career guys giving up their vacation time to travel across the states. The next year, I was put on the tour for eighteen days, and as soon as I came home I asked my wife if we could start the paperwork and put up our first chapter."

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