Code 3 for a Cure Raises Awareness about Firefighter Health and Safety in their Fight Against Cancer

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Code 3 for a Cure is a group of firefighters led by Lorenzo Abundiz, a retired member of the Santa Ana Fire Department and a 2-time cancer survivor, who have made it their mission to raise awareness about and work towards a cure of all cancers, especially those that have claimed the lives of firefighters. On June 13, 2008, Abundiz and his team left Los Angeles, California and began a journey across the United States in a fire engine donated by the Sutphen Corporation, covering 9,880 miles, traveling through 24 states and visiting 59 fire departments within 33 days. In making this large trek across the country, the Code 3 for a Cure first responders had four goals.

The group wanted to honor their fellow firefighters, paramedics, EMT's and police officers who had died because of cancer. While Lorenzo Abundiz was fighting his own battle with cancer, he told his family and friends, "I'm going to take a fire engine across the country, and I'm going to celebrate my cancer victory one day. At the same time, I am going to honor and remember those fallen firefighters who have died of cancer because it was they who paved the way for better equipment and better procedures of firefighting today." They accomplished this task by collecting names of fallen firefighters who lost their battles with cancer at each fire department they visited. Midway through the trip, they visited New York City, meeting with firefighters who responded to Ground Zero during the attacks of September 11th, and read the names that they had collected to that point. Upon their return to Los Angeles on July 15th, they were greeted with open arms by the residents, firefighters and political leaders of Southern California, where they read the complete list of names, honoring each one with the ring of a fire bell.

Their second objective was to raise awareness about firefighter related cancer. Since firefighters are often more susceptible to cancer than the average person due to the carcinogens that they are exposed to in the line of duty, Abundiz feels that it is imperative that first responders be screened for cancer regularly and do the most that they can to protect themselves from this killer. As LA Councilman Tom LaBonge stated at the Los Angeles ceremony, "If there is an alarm that sends you to a location, you do your job first, and only afterwards do you take an assessment of your own personal health and the hazard that took place."

The team's third purpose was to give hope, support and encouragement to those who are fighting cancer. Abundiz himself has weathered two battles with cancer since 1998, when he was diagnosed with a high grade leiomyosarcoma. One month after being declared free of the sarcoma, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. His story and the stories of his other teammates have been an inspiration to thousands of people who have met them or have heard about their cause.

The ultimate goal of the Code 3 for a Cure inaugural journey was to help end the sufferings of cancer by encouraging contributions to non-profit organizations that fund cancer research, aid firefighters who are currently suffering from cancer, and provide support and assistance to the families of firefighters who have passed away. Some of the organizations that Code 3 for a Cure endorses are the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, City of Hope, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Retired Professional Firefighters Cancer Fund, Inc., Firefighters for Christ, Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation, Beat Sarcoma, the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation, the United in Peace Foundation, and the Feel Good Foundation.  Further information and links to each of these non-profit organizations are available here.

Lorenzo Abundiz and Code 3 for a Cure are currently planning their next mission, in which they hope to travel across the United States and Canada to spread their message of honor and hope. They plan to make their second annual journey beginning in September of 2009 and project that it will last between 7 and 8 weeks. They are looking for first responders who are cancer survivors from the United States and Canada to be a part of the 2009 trip. Interested applicants can contact Lorenzo Abundiz at code3foracure@hotmail.com. The group is also looking for sponsors to provide the financing and equipment to make this trip possible, and further information can be obtained by visiting the Code 3 for a Cure website. Abundiz and his group are excited about the impact that their first trip made, and as LA City Fire Captain Steve Rocha proclaimed upon the completion of the 2008 tour, "We will not say mission accomplished, but mission started."

To watch a video on the Firefighter Cancer Support Network's efforts to help firefighters with cancer and their families, click here.