Palm Coast, FL – It was a battle of pure muscle and determination as teams of challengers stepped up to move 40,000 pounds of steel on Tuesday night.
As one of the largest crowds of the season, it was the battle between guns and hoses that drew families from across Flagler County to the September Food Truck Tuesday event in Town Center, all for a good cause.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds go to benefit the battle against breast cancer and raise awareness of the importance of screenings among people in need.
Decked out in the signature vibrant pink t-shirts, it was a memorable evening for the effort’s biggest cheerleader John Subers, director of the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation, and his team, who had received a proclamation recognizing October as breast cancer awareness month from the City of Palm Coast during the business meeting Tuesday morning.
Seeing the turnout and knowing it would bolster efforts to raise awareness was heartwarming for Subers.
“The City of Palm Coast has outdone themselves by coming up with an idea of a guns and hoses fire truck pull,” said Subers.
“It’s bringing excitement. It’s the camaraderie of seeing the different departments out here, pulling a pink truck which is apropos for what we’re trying to do for the month of October, (that makes it) a great evening,” he said with admiration.
Flexing muscles for bragging rights, members of the Palm Coast Fire Department, Local 4807 nabbed the championship belt, and speaking on behalf of the team Lt. Jeff Poeira said he was proud of their efforts.
“We did well. We got lucky this time,” said Poeira modestly, enthused to be part of something bigger for the community.
“It feels great. Me and my wife with the local fire department and union, we try and get together and do a lot, whether it’s the 5K runs and all, so this is a good switch up, and bringing the community together, it can only get better from here,” he said.
Good natured ribbing took place among Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and Palm Coast Fire Chief Jerry Forte who even while serving as the interim Palm Coast assistant city manager, was out to cheer on the home team.
“It is exciting to see all of these groups come together. We work in the streets together, we work in the stations together. These folks share the same dinner tables together, go to the same functions together, and I think this is a great way of bringing everybody together for just a simple day,” said Forte.
“I’m proud of all of them for coming down and doing their wonderful best that they can just to make the community feel a bit better, and especially something as important as breast cancer awareness,” said Forte, paying homage to the evening’s cause.
“I’ve known John Subers and his staff for a long time and he wants the best for the community. Just by coming down and showing their support, it took a couple of hours out of their day and that’s a big deal. I appreciate everybody coming down and spending their time. This is what community is about.”
To find out more about the upcoming AdventHealth’s Pink On Parade 5K set for October 10th to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and screenings, visit https://www.adventhealth.com/pink-on-parade.
Check out the full gallery of photos at here.
