801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318/ 673-6655 ● FAX: 318/ 673-6656 ● www.shreveportfire.org

Kelvin J. Cochran, Fire Chief

May 31, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Firefighters to Fulfill Wish of Seriously Ill Local Youth

Twelve year old to celebrate last chemotherapy treatment

A twelve year old battling cancer celebrates her last round of chemotherapy with a "No Mo’ Chemo" party at Ford Park on Monday, June 3 beginning at 10 am, thanks to the combined efforts of local firefighter heroes, retailers, and a nonprofit organization.

Phyllicia Chitman, "PJ", has been battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the muscle tissue, for the past year. Now at the end of her chemotherapy protocol, PJ finally has entered into remission and longed for a huge bash to commemorate this milestone. Over 50 guests are expected to celebrate with PJ and her family along with lots of volunteers and supporters.

The Shreveport Fire Department will assist Children’s Wish Foundation International in making this a day that PJ and her family will never forget. Children ’s Wish Foundation will present PJ with her very own state of the art laptop computer of her dreams, allowing her to keep up with schoolwork and friends in the coming school year. In addition, the Foundation has arranged for "Willie the Wizard", a local magician, to attend while firefighters grill hot dogs and hamburgers, the kids play with hula hoops and giant beach balls, and a local businessman prepares treats from a sno-cone machine.

The Fire Department, arriving in style on their fire engine, will also have their two fire clowns, "Zip" and "Zap", to entertain the crowd along with a special robot and the Children’s Safety Team. On hand for the party will also be PJ’s immediate family which includes her parents, Gwendolyn and Arthur Chitman and her 15 year old brother, Arthur Chitman, Jr.

Children’s Wish Foundation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia dedicated to bringing dreams to life for seriously and terminally ill children. Since the Foundation’s inception in 1985, hundreds of thousands of children have been touched by the organization’s various programs for children. The Shreveport Fire Department is proud and honored to have been on Phyllicia’s wish list and look forward to Monday’s ceremony. ###