PALM COAST, Fla. – Putting a little sweat equity into the effort, firefighter paramedic Jaeeon Jones, helped pull his team to victory Tuesday night.
It’s not just for bragging rights that the Flagler County Fire Rescue gave it their all. Putting their backs into it and pulling the fire engine before a cheering crowd at the Palm Coast Food Truck Tuesday, the team hoisted to victory knowing that their efforts help support the local Pink Army, helping those in need detect breast cancer early with much needed services.
“It feels amazing. The fact that I can represent such a wonderful, awesome department that I’ve been working with for three years, words cannot describe how grateful I am to be with this department and represent,” said Jones.
“It makes me proud to support such a cause. I’m really glad to be here today and represent the fire department and the cause.”
Each September as part of the month-long effort to raise awareness about the importance of breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services, the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation raises the flag and commemorates the occasion with proclamations from municipal governments around the county in addition to a full calendar of community awareness events like the City of Palm Coast’s annual Food Truck Tuesday Fire Truck Pull competition.
First responders look forward to competing in the truck pull as much as they look forward to chili cookoff competitions, each department or agency vying to nab the wrestle-mania style championship belt associated with the truck pull.
After losing it in 2023, Flagler County Fire Chief Mike Tucker was ready to reclaim the belt, and his team did not disappoint.
“Watching them come out and rally around such a great cause, breast cancer awareness is critical,” said Tucker. “It’s important to all of us. I think not a day doesn’t go by that you don’t of somebody close to you that suffers from some form of cancer. Breast cancer affects our moms, our sister and it even affects our brothers. We have one, our training chief is a breast cancer survivor himself.”
“To be able to come out and kick the crap out of these other teams was awesome,” he added, teasing and posing with the team.
The community events help get the word out about the annual Pink On Parade 5K and 1-Mile Pet Friendly Walk set for October 6, 2024 at the AdventHealth Palm Coast main campus on State Road 100. Families can register youth under 18 for half price by using the code ‘FlaglerParent’ courtesy of Flagler Parent Magazine.
