East Granby Municipal Complex will be Pretty in Pink for a Week

What began as a breast cancer fundraiser specific to the East Granby Volunteer Fire Department has mushroomed to include the entire town municipal complex.

Specifically, the East Granby town municipal complex is turning pink Oct. 9-16, with proceeds from the fundraiser benefiting the Connecticut Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“We got started with the [fire department’s] assistant chief asking about us doing something for breast cancer awareness,” said East Granby Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Christina Burkert, who is co-chairing the fundraiser with Lt. Don Rust.

Now, in addition to the fire department building, the Town Hall, the ambulance building, the community center and the library will have pink lights installed to raise awareness and money to combat breast cancer.

The event kicks off this Sunday with an open car/motorcycle show from 12 to 4 p.m., rain or shine, on Memorial Drive. There is a $10 donation to enter a vehicle in the event and $3 for spectators.

The show will include all makes and models of cars, motorcycles and antique fire trucks from around the area. Trophies will also be awarded for lady’s choice, first selectman’s choice, fire chief’s choice, first, second and third place, and best motorcycle.

In addition to the car/motorcycle show, the famous pink fire truck - provided by Rhode Island Pink Heals - will be on display at the firehouse and people may purchase tickets for games and treats like hot dogs, hamburgers, fried dough, cotton candy and popcorn.

Pink fire department t-shirts will be on sale and there will be a raffle drawing at 7 p.m.

A ceremony will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the lighting of the memorial/luminaries and will conclude at sunset with the lighting of the fire department and all the buildings within Memorial Drive. The pink lights on the buildings will remain on all week.

“It’s a wonderful program that was started by the fire department and we’re happy to support such a wonderful cause,” First Selectman James Hayden said in a telephone interview. “It’s pretty exciting.”

Make a donation to the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the cure at http://transaction.komenct.org/goto/eastgranbyfiredepartment.

For more information on sponsoring the event, make a donation or to order a pink East Granby Fire Department t-shirt, contact Lt. Christina Burkert at 860-930-5501 or Lt. Don Rust at www.eastgranbyfire.com.