In conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the Russellville Fire Department is again doing its part to raise money in order to help women in the community receive much-needed health and wellness screenings.

The RFD is currently selling breast cancer awareness T-shirts for $15 for short sleeve or $20 for long sleeve, with the proceeds going into a special fund set up at Russellville Hospital that will allow women who meet certain qualifications to receive a free mammogram or ultrasound screening.

This year, RFD will place two T-shirt orders. The deadline for T-shirt purchases in the first order will be Sept. 19, and shirts will arrive by the beginning of October. For the second order, shirts must be purchased by Oct. 10.

Firefighter Rhett Bradford said this fundraiser is just another way for the department to help the community they serve.

“This is the only option for some of these women. If they don’t have this (money for screenings) they could go without knowing (whether they might have cancer),” Bradford said.

Last year’s sales raised $2,285.

This year’s T-shirts, designed by 52Threads, are black with a hot pink design celebrating breast cancer fighters as heroes. They can be purchased at the RFD Station 1 on South Jackson Avenue, with no orders being taken after the finals order is placed Oct. 10.

Bradford said a portion of purchases made through 52Threads will go to support Youth Ministry 360 and Fund the Nations, which taken on mission work throughout the world. So while all funds raised in Russellville through T-shirt sales will go to Russellville Hospital, the sale is also benefiting this ministry partnership. “We’re helping people around here, and also it’s going to help their projects that they do,” Bradford said.

For more information about qualifying for the special free screenings made possible by the RFD, call 256-332-8688.