To bring attention to the number of cancer cases among firefighters, a group of Chicago firefighters are on a five-day bicycling journey from their city to Pittsburgh. Along their journey, called “Ignite the Spirit,” the bicyclists made a stop at a Bowling Green Fire Station Tuesday evening.
The Chicago firefighters were welcomed by Bowling Green Fire Chief Bill Moorman and members of the BG Fire Division.
All proceeds from their ride will directly benefit the “Ignite the Spirit” cancer fund to help members of the Chicago Fire Department.
According to the International Association of Firefighters, 61 percent of firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2002 to 2016 were cancer-related.
In Boston, one of the larger departments leading the charge against firefighter cancer, another Boston firefighter is diagnosed with cancer every three weeks, according to their internal figures.
Firefighters have a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population.
More about the Chicago firefighters’ efforts can be found at https://www.ignitethespirit.org/
