A convoy of fire trucks with some not-so-conventional paint jobs and firefighters arrived in Santa Clarita Valley this morning and parked in the circular drive at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. Tomorrow, the engines will travel to the Santa Clarita Senior Center and the Westfield Valencia Town Center to celebrate women who are fighting all types of cancer as part of the Pink Heals Tour 2011.

The Pink Heals Tour is scheduled to kick off its Santa Clarita visit at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, May 10 from Noon to 7pm. On Wednesday the tour will travel to the Santa Clarita Senior Center from 9:30am til 11:30am then its off to the Westfield Valencia Town Center until 4 p.m.

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At each location, community leaders, cancer survivors, and pink-suited firemen will share the story of the traveling pink brigade, then individuals affected by cancer, whether personally or through a loved one, will be invited to write messages of hope on the pink fire trucks.

Heather Warrick, cancer survivor and American Cancer Society Director, Healthcare Corporate Initiative, California Division, encourages the community to attend the Pink Heals event and show support for cancer survivors in the community.

“When you have cancer, you often feel alone,” said Warrick. “As a survivor, it’s a great feeling to experience people showing their support and love. It gives us a sense of joy and hope that one day cancer will be eradicated and that future generations will never experience this terrible disease.”

The “Guardians of the Ribbon” will also make special visits to cancer survivors who are unable to leave home or the hospital to attend the event. To request a visit, please call Candy Spahr at (661) 299-5536.

“This is an opportunity for everyone to honor the women in our lives who have cancer now or have had cancer in the past,” said Terry Bucknall, director of Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center, a service of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. “Anyone, male or female, who has been affected or has a family member who has been affected, should come out and show their support.”

The Pink Heals event is free; donations presented during the event are welcome and will benefit the Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center.

“We are grateful to have this opportunity to promote cancer awareness, and thank the Pink Heals Tour for their support of the patient assistance fund, which covers mammograms for the uninsured and underinsured,” said Diana Vose, president of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation.

“Our pink does not stand for a disease, but stands for the most important people in our lives, our women,” said Dave Graybill, creator of the Pink Heals Tour. “We support all types of cancer relief efforts and focus on women as a whole in whatever type of cancer they battle. As men it is in our nature to care for the women in our lives, this is just another way to show love and support. Our women are the most important people in our lives, whether they are our mothers, wives, daughters or sisters.”

The Pink Heals Tour, which began four years ago, started with $3,000 and an anonymous donor who helped Graybill buy his first fire truck.  The “Guardians of the Ribbon” are firefighters, police officers and community leaders from around the country dedicated to the fight against all types of cancer affecting women. Since 2007 their pink fire trucks have traveled around the country encouraging communities, and particularly men, to support women’s health, promote cancer awareness and honor cancer victims and their families.

Pink Heals Tour t-shirts will be sold at the event to help put fuel in the fire trucks. To learn more about Pink Heals – Guardians of the Ribbon, visit their website at http://www.pinkfiretrucks.org/ or become a fan on their facebook page – Pink Heals – Guardians of the Ribbon.