Fighting fires, fighting cancer: Milwaukee FD designs t-shirts to support Susan G. Komen Foundation

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 5,500 people in Wisconsin will be diagnosed with breast cancer just this year.

For that reason, many organizations band together in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to help battle the disease.

Every two years, Milwaukee Fire Department sells t-shirts to benefit Susan G. Komen and the fight against breast cancer.

"They don't just fight fires. They fight breast cancer," said Nikki Panico, executive director of Susan G. Komen Wisconsin.

This year they held a contest within the department to create the design.

Milwaukee Fire Lieutenant Jeff Freitag and Cadet Akai Mehling won the design contest.

"It's all about the action, research, community, and care that we have for Susan G. Komen," Freitag said, reading the 4 words displayed on the front of the shirt.

Lieutenant Freitag designed the front, combining the pink ribbon and fire Maltese cross.

"They're part of us, we're part of them, it's one big entity," Freitag said of the foundation.

Mehling's design is on the back, with two fire axes and a hose shaping the ribbon.

"It's about the people out in the community, the survivors, the people fighting breast cancer, and it's very heartwarming," Mehling said.

One hundred percent of shirt proceeds go toward breast cancer research and treatment assistance.

Milwaukee Fire Department has partnered with Susan G. Komen for a decade, raising more than $20,000.

"They have the ability to reach a multitude of areas and people to bring that awareness, and that's really what we need," said Komen volunteer, Tiffany Johnson.

Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago. Her continued advocacy is inspired by her 3-year-old daughter.

"She just asked me, 'Mommy, is this going to happen to me,' and that just hit me like a ton of bricks," Johnson said. "At that point, I knew I had to get out there and use my voice."

Johnson says MFD's partnership can help make breast cancer awareness and treatment equitable in every Milwaukee zip code.

"It's bringing those resources, the awareness of the resources to those communities. It's really bridging the gap," Johnson said.

T-shirts can be purchased at Firefighter Local 215's Union Hall, 5625 W. Wisconsin Ave., or on the Local 215 website HERE.