STERLING — Members of the Sterling Fire Department paid a visit to The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden Cancer Support Center last month to present a $2,000 donation to the nonprofit organization.
The donation made Dec. 18 is a result of the SFD’s seventh year of holding a Breast Cancer Awareness Month T-shirt fundraiser.
“While having a breast cancer T-shirt fundraiser is very popular at fire departments all around the country, donating our funds to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden is extra special to us because family members of three of our fire department members received the fantastic services that they offer,” said SFD firefighter/paramedic Erin Cullinane, who spearheaded the effort.
The Healing Garden provides a variety of complementary therapeutic services that address the side effects of cancer and its treatment, all at a beautiful facility in Harvard set on 8 acres of quiet woodlands and lovely gardens.
SFD’s own Lt. Tom Kokernak created this year’s design, which featured the words “Fighting For a Cure” and a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon made out of fire hose wrapped around the F in SFD. Cullinane said Ricky’s Sales & Service out of Leominster helped bring the design to life.
“We were happy to have a local, family-owned business make our shirts for the second year in a row,” Cullinane said of the collaboration. “Ricki-Ann created a website that allowed our community members to easily buy shirts and donate.”
Sales of the T-shirts began mid-September and continued through the last day of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Cullinane said she is “very happy with the results this year.”
“My goal was to raise $2,000, and we did just that! I am already looking forward to seeing next year’s design for our fundraiser.”
