Greencastle Fire Department raises $3,000 for breast cancer patients

The fire department presented a check to Putnam County Hospital for $3,000.

It was an idea that several members of the Greencastle Fire Department had, but fire chief Rob Frank wanted more. 

After being approached by several firefighters about wearing pink shirts while on shift, Frank decided if his department wanted to wear the shirts they would do so with each firefighter who wanted to wear a shirt make a $25 donation. 

The decision paid huge dividends, as the fire department presented a check to Putnam County Hospital for $3,000 Friday morning. 

"We wanted to wear pink to support breast cancer for several years and we finally made the decision to do that. The requirement was everybody in the department got a pink shirt, but to wear it on shift, they had to make a $25 donation towards breast cancer. We raised money that way and sold pink shirts. We also had three contributors in Heather Taylor State Farm, Tyler Cox from Remax and North Salem State Bank. We raised a total of $3,000 to donate to Putnam County Hospital for breast cancer patients that are local" Frank said. 

Frank said fire departments across the state do special things in October to show support for breast cancer and this was Greencastle's way to be involved and give back. 

"We had never done this before, but some of the guys had the idea. I didn't want to just wear pink t-shirts to support breast cancer without actually doing something to support them and that is where the idea where the $25 to wear on shift and we got some local businesses to partner with us," Frank said.