BOSTON — Diane Cotter, an activist who fought tirelessly to eliminate toxic PFAS chemicals from firefighter gear, will be volunteering in Boston next Thursday with SixDegrees.org, a national nonprofit founded by Footloose actor Kevin Bacon.
Cotter’s foray into activism began in 2014 when her husband, Lieutenant Paul Cotter of the Worcester Fire Department, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Concerned and determined to find answers, Diane examined his firefighter gear one night and discovered several dime-sized holes near the groin area of his trousers. This alarming find led her to uncover the dangerous link between toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighter gear and cancer. Her advocacy has led to significant reforms in the industry, including the recent signing of a bill by Governor Maura Healey that phases out the use of these harmful chemicals in the personal protective equipment of firefighters in Massachusetts.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Churchill/People Magazine)
MORE: Worcester firefighter wife’s activism against PFAs in fire gear reforms the industry
This Thursday, Cotter will join SixDegrees.org’s initiative in Boston, where volunteers will assemble 3,000 mental health resource kits that will be distributed to firefighters attending the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) convention the following week.
“When we met Diane Cotter and learned about the hidden dangers of PFAS among firefighters, we knew we had to raise awareness for her work,” said Stacy Huston, SixDegrees.org’s Executive Director. “She is a true advocate, and we greatly admire her. This opportunity to show appreciation to firefighters for their selfless service is very important to us.”
Cotter, reflecting on her collaboration with SixDegrees.org, said, “I met Stacy while reaching out to SixDegrees to share the plight of firefighters early in 2024. Since then, SixDegrees has taken up the firefighter community in their incredible ‘Heroes Kit’ campaign, and we could not be more excited that Kevin Bacon and SixDegrees are honoring America’s bravest!”
SixDegrees is still looking for volunteers for their event next Thursday. If you’re interested, you can sign up to volunteer here.
Event Details:
- When: Thursday, August 22nd
- Time: Set up begins at 10:00 a.m. Building from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Location will be shared post sign-up!