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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- You’ve heard the saying “real men wear pink”- well that’s exactly what firefighters with the Kirksville Fire Department are doing.

And it’s all for a good cause.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and firefighters all across the nation are turning in their blue shirts for pink shirts as a way to support women in their fight against all cancers.

And for the Kirksville Fire Department it’s their first year participating in this nationwide event and so far, the response from the community has been positive.

“A lot of women have said they appreciate us wearing pink,” said firefighter Jeremy Davis. “A lot of the guys make fun of us at first for wearing pink, but they know it’s for a good cause. It’s been great to hear that the community appreciates us wearing pink and supporting this cause.”

The Kirksville Fire Department is part of the International Association of Firefighters and the IAFF supports and encourages its members to participate in campaigns throughout the month, something Davis says they’re already planning for next year.

“Next year we plan on doing some different things to help raise money for the cause,” said Davis. “We’ve been asked by a lot of people in the community to possibly order some more shirts so they can buy them and wear them.”

But even though this is their first year participating in the campaign, the department was able to raise some money.

“The money we raised this year was from the money we used to purchase our pink shirts and the company we bought them from also donates a portion to the campaign,” said Davis.

117 fire departments in the IAFF in 35 states are participating in this year’s Passionately Pink for the Cure Campaign.