Pink T-shirts Raise Nearly $5k for Cancer Research

What began as by Bethlehem firefighters who wore and sold pink Bethlehem Fire Department t-shirts during Breast Cancer Awareness month this past October has raised nearly $5,000.

Firefighter Brian Padilla, who organized the campaign, presented a check for $4,861.50 to Dr. Lee Riley of the cancer center at a press event at the South Side station house Thursday afternoon.

While not yet specifically earmarked, firefighter and local union president David Saltzer and Riley both indicated the money would likely go directly to support Riley's research into genome-tailored vaccine therapy for melanoma and breast cancer.

“(Padilla) is very adamant that it get used in the best possible way,” Saltzer said, as he signed an oversized presentation check. “They're trying to decide where it will do the most good.”

Unlike money distributed through a charity or foundation, the direct donation means none of the funds will be lost to administrative costs, with 100 percent going to the cause, Riley noted.

About 2,000 of the shirts were sold, Saltzer said.

A number have traveled out of the local area too, with the group having heard of shirts going to such diverse destinations as Iraq, Italy, Florida, Texas, and Kansas, he added.