Summerville Firefighter Walking for Cancer this Weekend

An Old Fort Fire engineer is in Washington, D.C., this weekend walking nearly 40 miles to advocate for breast cancer research during the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. 

John Johnston of Summerville will wear a pink firefighter helmet and full firefighting gear on his walk — as he's done for previous charity walks. But this weekend marks his longest charitable walk so far. 

Johnston prepares for walking in the heavy gear by walking around Summerville, sometimes raising a few eyebrows. 

"A lot of people don't know how to take that or approach me," Johnston said, but, he added, he always welcomes questions. 

Why the pink helmet and support of breast cancer research?

Johnston's own family has not been touched by breast cancer, although his father died of liver cancer. However, a family friend died two years ago from the disease.

"I basically know what it does to a family. It's a very evil, slow death," Johnston said. "We witnessed the deterioration." 

Johnston said it takes so much from families. He calls the surviving members of the family affected by cancer "the walking wounded."