Cruising the I-10 Westbound …. Part One

After leaving Alabama, Lorenzo headed across Louisiana. 

It was hot and humid as he drove by some Louisiana swamps, and then on to Baton Rouge District 6 for a stop and visit.

There we met with Chief Kevin Sanchez, and FF’s Josiah Jones and Anthony Collins. They were a great group of guys and fun to be around.

The next stop for Lorenzo was Houston, Texas.

There he re-united with the crews of station 33 where he had been able to stay while undergoing treatment at the M.D.Anderson Medical Center for his battle with prostrate cancer.

The guys there gave him a great big welcome and then set about taking care of the apparatus. With a good once over and wash and detail it was looking great.

While in TX Lorenzo stopped by the Medical center for a blood draw by local phlebotomist Gifford Okapah boi.

After giving blood, he attended a fund raising BBQ at the site of old Station 27 that the Houston Dept. is trying to re-model into a cancer care house that FF’s can stay at while undergoing treatment at MD Anderson.

He was greeted there by Chief Lorenzo Diaz, and Harold Reese, plus lots of community support.

Remember that the end of the mission is on Monday April 18 at the City of LA Memorial.

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Georgia, Florida, Then Heading West

After spending the night sleeping in the engine at a parking lot between two nice motels, Lorenzo was up and headed toward Florida.

A quick stop at a bakery called the Bread Wagon before leaving Georgia, then it's open road toTallahassee. 

Crossing into Florida, the weather was holding for the 3rd straight day. 

When we arrived, Tallahassee had a great turnout to great us.

We visited there with them and then prepared for another long driving day. 

Heading out with an escort, we turned West for the beginning of the road toward home.

Next we cross into Alabama. Along the way we encounter our first wildfire of the season.

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Read about the Code 3 For a Cure mission and their annual tour around the U. S.
at their website:  http://www.code3foracure.org/

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Ahh…More Warm, Beautiful Weather

Tuesday was another beautiful day for traveling.

Lorenzo headed south from Charlotte, North Carolina, across South Carolina into Georgia to meet up with Capt. Keith Harris in Fayetteville.

Into Georgia and Through Atlanta

Capt. Harris is our contact with FF Chris Landreau who was featured HERE in Firegeezer earlier. Capt. Harris met us when we arrived in Fayetteville.

Captain Harris added names to the memorial bell of others who have paid the ultimate price.

After visiting the Fayetteville, Lorenzo knew he had a long drive ahead of him, so he hit the road to get closer to Florida and his next stop in Tallahassee.  One of the things that he make sure of is to always make the effort to Eat Healthy when you're on the road.

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The Sutphen Sails From the Snow to the Sunny South

Lotsa leaves, no snow!

Lorenzo left the Fairfax County area and headed South. Finally it was a good weather day for travel, in fact it was a hot day by the standards of the journey so far. He made a short stop at the Reva, Virginia, VFD where he met with some of the FF’s and their families.

Then the long trip to Thomasville North Carolina, (just south of High Point NC). There he had a warm reception and met with all the FF’s and had a good visit with FF Robert Nichols and his family.

Robert is a cancer survivor who has returned to full duty even with what some would consider a disability. Robert plans to join the mission next year and do part of the journey with Lorenzo.

As Lorenzo was getting ready to leave, Thomasville left first…. responding to a call.

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And it's on to the next stop.

Read about the Code 3 For a Cure at their website:  http://www.code3foracure.org/
 

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Lorenzo Continues Eating Across America

A firefighter from East Allen Township got on board and helped Lorenzo navigate his way through New York City over to Queens. 

Then they joined up with a group of FDNY guys for a long procession to Long Island and ending up at Plainview. 

After arriving in Plainview they had some time to share the Code 3 message and then a giant BBQ.  Man those guys can cook. 

The next morning Lorenzo started the long hop to Knoxville, Tennesse, with a stopover in Fairfax County, Virginia, to meet with Firegeezer guys at Fire Station 411.  That visit was POSTED HERE the other day.  Then it was on to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.  Stay tuned.

Read about the Code 3 For a Cure at their website:  http://www.code3foracure.org/
 

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Taking Time to Meet With Some Firegeezers

WHILE TAKING THE DEADHEAD RUN from Long Island to Knoxville Sunday, Lorenzo stopped off at Fairfax County, Virginia, Fire Station 411 to meet up with three of the Geezerguys and the crew from A shift at the firehouse.

A Bright and Shining Lorenzo With 3 Geezerguys
(l. to r.) Bill "Firegeezer" Schumm, Mke "Fossilmedic" Ward,
Al "Bonzo" Mullins and some of the crew from A Shift.

It was a good chance for Lorenzo meet with us and say hello in person.  He was at the firehouse for a couple of hours where we were able to get acquainted and he could talk a bit with the firefighters about being vigilant with your own personal actions to prevent cancer and ways to detect any potential problems early on.

Firefighter Mark Pitzer Set Up the Traditional Wings Pose

We also got to inspect that quality pumper that Sutphen is providing for this year's mission which is just passing the half-way point.

As it was getting dark, we had to say goodbye for the time being so that Lorenzo could get some more miles in on the long hop to Tennessee.  This morning (Tuesday) he is passing through North Carolina with a firefighter cancer survivor who is riding along for a while and heading down to Georgia to meet up with Chris Landreau, the Coweta County firefighter that we featured HERE on March 15.  You may recall his brave battle being memorialized in a song that's available on iTunes.

Time To Hit the Road.  Adios, Brother

We will have the report from Long Island for you shortly.

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Lorenzo Shows Off The Latest Piece of Equipment For the Mission

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Read about the Code 3 For a Cure at their website:  http://www.code3foracure.org/
To read about their tour stops so far this year, go to the Categories box on the right sidebar and click on Charity.

A Little Backtracking, Then Heading East

On the Road Again, but don’t ask Lorenzo to sing it for you, trust me on this.

Gene, you have to get out of the cab now  (Chief Bostic)

Thursday after getting a send off from Sutphen by Chief Bostic, Lorenzo headed north to Kenton, Ohio, for a visit there,and so they could add the names of their members who have passed on to the Memorial Bell.

Kenton Fire Chief (upper photo) and the Kenton duty crew.

Adding names to the Memorial Bell

From Kenton he moved on to Sylvania, Ohio, to spend some time with the crews and Code 3 crew member Jeff Young another cancer survivor who was on duty there.

Friday it's on to East Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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Up To Madison And Then South Again

As reported yesterday Lorenzo made his way up to Madison, Wisconsin, to visit with the firefighters there. They have been following along the journey on Firegeezer, so they were ready for Lorenzo when he stopped there.

The Madison Firefighters presented Lorenzo with a great donation for the foundation and are working on our IAFF leadership for some recognition.

(above) Capt. Baba Presents a Generous Check to Lorenzo
(below)  Capt. Baba, his bride, and their pooch.

From there Lorenzo turned south and headed through Rockford and Bloomington, Illinois, and on to Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District.

Chief Letterie and the crew put him up for the night and placed an envelope of names in the memorial bell.

This morning they made him a big breakfast of bacon and eggs and he is on his way to St. Louis, Missouri.

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Upcoming Itinerary (subject to adjustment)

March 29 – Michigan City, Indiana, Lansing, Michigan, Sylvania, Ohio

March 30 – Toledo, Columbus, and Dublin Ohio

March 31 – East Allen Township, Pennsylvania

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The Banner Gets Delivered to Kevin's Wife

Several stops along the way to Waukegan to visit and get the engine serviced.

First in Sycamore, Illinois, for a stop and banner signing,

Then on to Woodstock, Illinois where the guys signed the banner,

From there is was up the road to McHenry for another stop. Code 3 met up with Mike Piccolo and his wife Kaity where Mike serviced the engine to make sure it was good to go.

Mike Piccolo and Lorenzo

Arriving in Waukegan, Lorenzo removed the banner to in preparation of giving it to Katie Oldham in memory of Kevin. The Waukegan FF’s and Lorenzo had a great opportunity to visit and share stories about Kevin before Lorenzo moved on up north to Zion, Illinois, for the night.

FF Matt from Zion and others took Lorenzo out for some great Pizza complete with Jalapeño’s and of course Lorenzo saved me a piece…yea right.

Today we move on north to Madison, Wisconsin, for a visit before turning due south toward Rockford and Bloomington. The road is a lonely place when you are traveling by yourself, so Lorenzo keeps his wedding picture of he and his wife Peggy on the dash with his helmet.

On some legs of the trip Lorenzo has company when a firefighter rides along for a while and helps with the driving.  If there is a fire fighter out there who wants to jump on board and help Lorenzo with the mission, please contact us through www.firefighters@code3foracure.org.

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Schedule for the next few days

March 28 – St. Louis, Missouri – Lafayette, Indiana

March 29 – Michigan City, Indiana, – Lansing, Michigan – Sylvania, Ohio

March 30 – Toledo, Columbus, and Dublin, Ohio

March 31 – East Allen Township, Pennsylvania (two nights)

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