Firefighters raise funds for cancer research

Published Tuesday November 3rd, 2009
B4

Halloween day brought forth spirits of a different sort to the fire station on St. George Boulevard.

Competitors from different walks of life - from firefighters to financial advisors to breast cancer survivors - gathered to compete in the first annual Moncton F.A.C.E. Extinguishing Cancer Firefighter Relay. The event helped raise almost $2,000.

Prizes, donated by local businesses, were awarded to the top teams in different categories.

CrossFit Dieppe won first place in the men's division, CrossFit Moncton won first place in the ladies division, Sun Life Financial won first place in the corporate (mixed) team division and the Riverview Fire Department won first place fire department team division.

This fun event was in a relay format in which a team of 3-5 people performed firefighter job-related tasks in a timed race.

The Moncton Firefighter Combat Challenge Team hosted this event at their training facility where the team prepares itself for competitions throughout Canada and the United States.

Spear-headed by Moncton firefighters Collin Powers and Matt Dunfield, the event was an opportunity to raise awareness of the F.A.C.E. foundation, help fund cancer research and to have fun while doing what a typical firefighter might encounter in his or her job.

F.A.C.E., which stands for Firefighters Against Cancer's Existence, is an organization started by Burlington, Ont. firefighter Tim Catterall. All monies raised by F.A.C.E. goes towards research of the nine most prevalent cancers that stricken firefighters. Catterall is battling leukemia and knows first-hand that funds directed to this research to help firefighters ultimately helps everyone who may ever have to deal with this disease.

Currently F.A.C.E. directs its money to the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, one of the world's premier cancer-research centres, however, there is an agreement with the Moncton Combat Challenge Team that a majority of the money raised by their team stays local.

With one event under their belt, Dunfield and Powers plan on making next year's event bigger and better.

 
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