Pink Fire Trucks Fight to Extinguish Cancer [GALLERY]

If you were cruising down Bypass 20 this week and saw a convoy of pink fire trucks, you were looking at a group of good Samaritans who travel the country to raise awareness and money to combat cancers. The Pink Heals do so much than that though.

I had the privilege of meeting and hanging with these fine folks this week at Bocker Auto in Freeport. The Pink Heals were founded by Dave Graybill, a former pro-athlete, retired firefighter and philanthropist. The Pink Heals travel the country in pink fire trucks and buses and stop in various communities to raise money for local cancer centers and causes. Monday's event at Bocker raised funds for the Ferguson Cancer Center in Freeport, and was staffed by volunteers from the Pink Heals home state of Arizona and northern Illinois. In fact, one volunteer's husband was recruited to join the tour in August. That's how this works. The caravan goes from town to town and raises money that stays in those communities.

Judging by the pink trucks and buses, it's easy to assume that the focus is on breast cancer, but that's not so. The spotlight is on all of cancer's hideous forms. However, the pink does symbolize the importance of women's roles as the caregivers and nurturers in our families and communities. Every single one of the Pink Heals volunteers are enthusiastic about their mission and every one of them think the world of their leader, Dave. Check out the Pink Heals website and if you can, lend a hand to help raise money to rid the world of a disease that has touched many, if not most of us.

People are encouraged to grab a Sharpie marker and dedicate a message to those who have lost or won the battle against cancer. The disease stole by best friend and father in 2010 and has taken other loved ones from me before that.