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CODE 3 FOR A CURE is an annual mission of hope and honor that began this year (2008), when a crew of firefighters departed from Los Angeles on June 13 and drove a fire engine, courtesy of Sutphen Corporation, across America.  They returned on July 15.

 

The CODE 3 crew traveled 9,880 miles across 24 states, stopping at 59 fire departments, all within a 33-day period.  They collected the names of fallen firefighters (both active and retired) who have lost their lives due to cancer. The names collected during the first portion of their journey were read in New York City, and upon their return to Los Angeles Fire Department the complete list was read of all the names that had been collected. A fire bell rang out once for each name called.

 

By honoring their comrades across the nation who have passed away from cancer, the firefighters hope to bring awareness of how widespread cancer is, among firefighters in particular. Their  ultimate goal is to find a cure for ALL cancers so that NO ONE has to suffer from the agony of this disease and the grief it leaves behind.  To that end, the firefighters are encouraging donations to the non-profit organizations that relentlessly wage the war against cancer day after day. You can make a donation directly to a non-profit(s) of your choice through this website, by clicking on the Non-Profits page.

 

CODE 3 FOR A CURE was founded by Lorenzo Abundiz, who was forced to retire from the Santa Ana Fire Department because of cancer and other medical conditions related to his firefighting career. Lorenzo has battled two types of cancer over the past ten years. The first was a high grade leiomyosarcoma and the second was bladder cancer. He was diagnosed with the second cancer just one month after he had been declared cured from the sarcoma after a five-year window. This year (2008) marks the end of Lorenzo’s long, ten-year battle with cancer that began in 1998, and thus he felt compelled to organize this mission. Its main purpose is four-fold: to honor his comrades in the fire service who have lost their lives due to cancer (whether they were active or retired), because it was they who paved the way, through their service and sacrifice, to the safer equipment and procedures used by the firefighters of today; to raise awareness about firefighting related cancers; to give hope, support and encouragement to firefighters and others who are fighting their own personal battle against cancer and in so doing let them know they are not alone; and to help find a cure for ALL cancers by encouraging contributions to the non-profit agencies who are waging the war against this hidden enemy, who help those who are suffering from the disease, and who support the families of those who have fallen. 

 

Read more about how it all began by clicking on the How It All Began page.