By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

The Hays Fire Department stood up to support women affected by cancer on Friday as the Wichita Area Guardians of the Ribbon stopped by for lunch with their pink fire truck.

The Guardians, made up of members of Wichita area fire departments and community members, were on their way to support a Relay for Life event in Yuma, Colo., and decided to stop by Hays.

Hays firefighters hosted an open house for the community, barbecuing hot dogs and showcasing the pink fire engine at the front of the station.

The pink fire truck is fully outfitted, loaded with water and ready to fight fires, even though they have no intention of using it for that. It also contains pink firefighter gear and pink outfits.

"Pink is the color we wrap our baby girls in the minute they are born," said Wichita Area Chapter secretary-treasurer Nicki Janne. "It is the color of love. It is the color of women. It is a way to support all women with all cancers."

Vernon Peterson, a retired Sedgwick County fire captain and Hays resident, helped coordinate the event, communicating to Guardians and Hays Fire Chief Gary Brown.

"I have lost a son to cancer, so I am really glad to see something like this going on and making people aware," Peterson said. "Hopefully, some day there will be a cure. Who knows? I think it is great that the fire department supports this."

The Guardians support women with cancer by helping to raise awareness and help with fundraisers across the Midwest.

"It can draw in more people and more interest," Janne said. "It helps them with their fundraising efforts and helps them get a lot of attention to what they are doing."

Cancer survivors and people affected by cancer can sign the truck as a traveling memorial. Though it has just recently was painted pink, the fire truck already is adorned and covered with the signatures.

"It is very healing and very powerful to be able to sign this truck and to put your message out there for others to read," Janne said.

Joyce Parker, whose breast cancer is in remission, said she was happy to see the Guardians come to Hays. She cited her religion as the major factor helping her fight cancer.

They "help people to see that, yes, there is cancer, and people can either come through it and not have any cancer or they can overcome cancer," Parker said. "By doing so, they can be a witness to show what Jesus can do."

The Guardians formed last year after Janne was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her husband, Richard, was a Sedgwick County firefighter, and some of her firefighter friends sent her an image of a pink fire truck, perking her up.

"They decided they were going to come tease my husband and paint his antique fire truck pink," she said. "I think he took them at their word, and he said I've got friends that can find me fire trucks. He contacted one of the manufacturing representatives, and they said they would hook us up.

"She is a very good truck, and she is pretty in pink.."