Teaneck Firefighters, Community High School Help Battle Cancer

Teaneck firefighters teamed up with Community High School students and staff to welcome a pink fire truck to the school Friday in an effort to raise money and awareness in the fight against cancer. 

Community High School 1986 alumni Dan Peschetti drove the pink fire engine to the school for students and staffers to write messages on the truck, and donate to pinkhealsnnj.org through the “Cares Enough to Wear Pink” campaign.

Peschetti, the North Bergen Repair and Transit Supervisor, painted the truck and donated it to the Guardians of the Pink Ribbon, a group of police, firefighters and EMTs who work to help women fighting cancer. The truck was named “Gemma” in memory of Peschetti’s mother, who died of lung cancer.

“Dan is one more CHS alumni to be very proud of and we want to thank him for donating his time to bring “Gemma” to our high school,” said Linda Byrnes, the alumni coordinator who helped organize the visit. 

Teaneck firefighters James Hayes and Joseph Pichetto, of the Teaneck FD Tower Ladder, and Chief Anthony Verley were on hand for the CHS event Friday.

Teaneck firefighters have been wearing pink shirts under their gear for cancer awareness, and the department’s unions pledged to donate $5 for every alarm crews handle this month.