Felling Trailers will be hosting its ninth annual Trailer for a Cause online auction of an FT-3 Utility trailer to benefit a nonprofit organization. Felling Trailers' goal is to bring awareness to various nonprofits that are making a difference by donating 100 percent of the winning bid from the auction to a different nonprofit each year. The previous Trailer for a Cause auctions have raised more than $25,000 for nonprofit organizations such as Bright Pink – Breast Cancer, SOMN – Special Olympics Minnesota, Children’s Cancer Research Fund, and Lymphoma Research Foundation, to name a few.
Felling Trailers Inc. has selected the Minnesota Firefighters Foundation (MNFFF) as the 2021 Trailer for a Cause auction beneficiary. “We respect and appreciate firefighters’ time, skills, and service as they risk their lives to protect our communities,” said Brenda Jennissen, president and CEO of Felling Trailers. “Having almost a dozen volunteer firefighters on our team makes it even more personal, and we’re honored to give back to this statewide organization that works to educate and bring awareness to all of our Minnesota firefighters.”
A Fall 2021 auction is being planned for Trailer for a Cause. Leading up to the auction, Felling Trailers will be working with MNFFF to generate awareness about firefighters and their families that have been affected by cancer and other health issues because of their involvement in the fire service. With more than 7,000 toxic carcinogens being released in today’s fires, not only are on-scene deaths a risk, but the carcinogens being ingested are causing cancer in a high number of firefighters as well. Each year over 70 firefighters die in the line of duty, while cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters. Since 9/11 more than 7,000 firefighters have been diagnosed with some form of cancer or a disabling health diagnosis.
After receiving training on the Health Risk to Firefighters in 2016, a small group of individuals felt compelled to do more for their brothers and sisters in the fire service. The founding five members piled into a small room and knew at that time there needed to be more focus on the hidden health and cancer risk firefighters faced. In early 2017 The Minnesota Firefighters Foundation was formed, and its mission is simple. Supporting firefighters and their families that have been affected by cancer and other health issues due to their involvement in the fire service. MNFFF’s main campaign is HOODS 4 HEROES which educates firefighters on how to protect themselves, along with giving them the tools and equipment to help mitigate the risk of cancer and other hidden health risks. The HOODS 4 HEROES campaign mission is to purchase particulate hoods for fire departments across Minnesota that cannot afford them. For additional information on MNFFs research, education and services, visit www.mnfff.org.
