SAUGUS — The Fire Department and Police Department have announced the sixth annual Saugus Badges for a Cure, an event that unites the two departments in the battle against cancer.
The event will take place on Sept. 26 from 6-10 p.m. at Kowloon Restaurant. Guests can expect plenty of entertainment, with live music provided by Richie Rich and 24 Karat Band. Tickets can be purchased online. Proceeds are going toward Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
“The Saugus Police and Fire unions both kind of team up together to raise funds for research and awareness,” firefighter Anthony Arone said.
He noted that all proceeds will go to Danna-Farber in the name of women’s cancers, which is aimed toward breast cancer donations.
“It’s one of those things we came up with a long time ago, because it hits home in everybody’s lives. We were able to put this together even during Covid. … We were outdoors, and people had masks on. The overwhelming amount of support that we have received as a group is what truly drives this event,” he said.
Arone continued to say the event was a great way for people to get together and see some friendly and familiar faces while raising money for a great cause. He also mentioned that Kowloon and the Wong family have continued to be great hosts, allowing them to use the outdoor space.
Arone also joked about how it’s a way to squash the belief that firefighters and police officers dislike each other.
“People say that police and firefighters don’t get along,” he said. “That’s just an age-old myth. In Saugus, we prove it wrong time and time again. The police and fire departments are always together doing something. This event is just another reflection on the relationship we have together in a positive way to be able to give back to the community.”
The departments hope that people stop by and check out the event to enjoy a fun time, interact with police and firefighters, and raise some money to fight cancer. There will also be raffles and a silent auction to participate in.
Arone said there are active family members in the two departments who are battling breast cancer, which is another reason why they started the event.
“It’s a difficult thing. It takes over your whole family and consumes your whole life,” Arone said.
He then told the story of a group of women he met at last year’s event, which was inspiring to see.
“We had two tables of women who were not connected to the Saugus Police and Fire Department in any way. They saw the posts online, and they came out. They were from Winthrop, and it was a group of women who met at Dana-Farber while receiving treatment. They were dressed to the nines, in all their pink, and they had a blast,” he said.
Arone hopes to see them again this year because they lightened the mood with their “hooting and hollering and dancing.”
Those unable to attend can still show their support. The Fire Department is currently selling pink t-shirts, with proceeds again going to Saugus Badges for a Cure in support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The shirts can be purchased online. A link is available on the department’s Facebook page.
