STARKVILLE — A convoy of fire trucks with some not-so-conventional paint jobs will roll through Starkville next month. 

The Pink Heals Tour is scheduled to visit Starkville on Oct. 2. As part of the tour, about a half-dozen fire trucks travel around the country and attend events to support women”s health, promote cancer awareness and honor cancer victims and their families. 

The Starkville event will take place at Fire Station 1, located at 503 E. Lampkin St., from 4-7 p.m., although a 5K run and one-mile fun run will take place at the city Sportsplex at 8 a.m. 

Those who attend the evening event at Fire Station 1 will be able to participate in raffles for items like a flat-screen television and spa package. There also will be music, food, face painting and inflatable jumpers for kids, sno-cones and a coloring contest to win a party with a free jumper, among other activities. 

Sparky, the Starkville Fire Department”s mascot, also will be on hand. 

The pink fire trucks are scheduled to arrive at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., there will be special presentations, and people who have been affected by cancer will have a chance to sign the pink fire trucks.

“The biggest reason we”re doing this is this is an opportunity to honor women who have cancer now, have had cancer in the past or know somebody who has had cancer,” said Starkville Fire Department training officer Charles Yarbrough, who helped organize the event. “So anybody, male or female, who has been affected or has a family member who has been affected, should come out and show their support.”

Yarbrough has been planning the event the past year. 

“It”s important to me because, as a male, we need to honor the females,” he said. “I have a wife and a mom and a sister and wanted to honor them. Cancer also has affected my life. My grandfather died of cancer. I think every family in some form or fashion has been affected by cancer and this is an opportunity to bring it to the forefront.”

Proceeds from the event will go to OCH Regional Medical Center”s Center for Breast Health and Imaging. The funds will go to the patient assistance program at the Center for Breast Health and Imaging, which covers mammographies for the uninsured.

“As the fund grows, we hope to be able to expand and help cover some of the issues that come with breast cancer diagnosis,” said Cherri Lightsey, office manager at the Center for Breast Health and Imaging.

Lightsey is a cancer survivor. She is encouraging the public to attend the Pink Heals event and show support for fellow cancer survivors in the area.

“I think, as a survivor, it”s a real emotional high, for lack of a better word, to see people come out in a show of support for something that is so life-changing,” Lightsey said. “It”s great just to know you”re not alone. There are people who have been there and done that. They”re long-termers. I”m really looking forward to seeing the pink trucks and all the signatures. I think it”s going to be great fun. I”m really excited about it.”

For more information on the tour, visit www.pinkfiretrucks.org.