LINDA PAYNE

Linda Payne

lpayne@newstopic.net

Few words can describe the emotions members of the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation displayed Thursday when they were presented with a gift from the Lenoir Fire Department.

Donna Crisp, CMH Foundation president, and Scott Brown, executive director of the foundation, were in complete amazement when they were awarded more than $5,500 from Lenoir Fire Chief Ken Briscoe and Assistant Chief Ken Hair. Both said they were nearly speechless at the community's response in such a short period of time.

"I am in awe with the generosity of the people in Caldwell County," Brown said. "I want to thank everyone for their support, and I want them to know their contributions will help save lives."

Throughout October, LFD personnel sold pink T-shirts and hosted a pancake breakfast at Fatz Cafe in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Briscoe said his staff knew right away they wanted the proceeds to go to a local organization to help local folks with their battle against cancer. But he had no idea so many people felt the same way. He said the department sold more than 1,100 T-shirts and more than 700 pancake plates.

"We are very appreciative of the residents in Caldwell County for their tremendous support of this event," Briscoe said with a grin. "I feel like we have been able to directly help those in our community, and we would not have been able to do that without the support of our residents. We thank you very much. You are the reason we are able to share this money with the men and women who struggle with breast cancer everyday."

Briscoe said the original plan was to split the proceeds down the middle, but when the fire department exceeded its original goal, members decided to pass the extra money along.

"Thank you very much," said Laura Easton. CMH president. "Awareness and prevention is essential to the fight against cancer, and it is through events like this that people learn how important early detection is to saving lives. Thank you again for this gracious gift, and we are looking forward to next year."