The Lenoir Fire Department and the Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation had their inaugural “Firefighters Fighting Cancer” pancake breakfast and pink T-shirt fundraiser on Friday at Fatz Café, and it was a huge success.

“We had no idea we would have this outpouring of love and support. In these tough economic times, with our unemployment rate being over 15 percent, we had so many people wanting to donate as much as they could,” said Lenoir Fire Chief Ken Briscoe.

A spokesperson from Fatz said that this was the largest turnout for breakfast, corporate wide, that they had ever seen. It just goes to show you how wonderful this community really is. The Lenoir Fire Department, Caldwell Memorial Hospital and Fatz Café would like to thank everyone that participated in this fundraiser. Since there was such an overwhelming response, with over 700 plates ordered, the organizations thank you for your patience and understanding that some pre-sold orders were not able to be filled. For those who still want their breakfast delivered, it will be delivered on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Those who choose to be refunded can contact Asst. Chief Ken Hair at 757-2191.

“We have had such an amazing demand for the pink t-shirts that we have decided to sell them the entire month of October, so if you weren’t able to get one and haven’t ordered one, we will have more,” added Briscoe.

This fundraiser was to bring awareness of breast cancer. Crystal Dula, cancer program coordinator for Caldwell Memorial Hospital, was at the event handing out packets of breast health information to everyone that came into Fatz.

“This is just a wonderful event, we were able to feed and educate the people of Caldwell County all at once,” she said.

Statistically, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. LFD and CMH urge all women to do their monthly self breast exam, get your yearly clinical breast exam and if you are 40 and above, get your mammogram each year. This is not just a disease that affects women as one in 100 breast cancer diagnoses are men.