Matt Fleck, a Joliet firefighter, and his wife Sandra, a market leader for Heartland Bank and Trust, were tired of writing checks to large organizations and not knowing where the money went. Sandra’s sister and mother are both cancer survivors, and they witnessed firsthand how cancer can strike. Matt and Sandra wanted to give back to their local community, and they wanted to ensure the funds went to people who actually needed help. To the Fleck’s surprise, over 1,000 people came out and participated in a procession behind the pink fire trucks to raise awareness and support for women battling all types of cancer. They raised $12,000, and were able to give the earnings to a local cancer treatment center. In 2013, Matt and Sandra formed their own local chapter of the national organization. The Joliet Chapter currently has two vehicles, Addison and Tina. Both vehicles are living monuments filled with signatures honoring women who have suffered or are suffering from any type of cancer.
