Article Contributed on: 8/25/2008 3:14:25 PM
Two local firefighters stripped down to heat up the 2009 Colorado firefighter calendar, which raises money for The Children's Hospital Burn Center.
David Rosier and
Todd Godek with the Thornton and Brighton fire departments, respectively, joined the ranks of men and women who have bared their firefighter muscles to grace the calendar pages produced by Fired Up for Kids, a nonprofit that supports Colorado firefighters and The Children's Hospital.
The fifth calendar was debuted at an Aug. 22 party at Beta Nightclub in Denver. Sales from past calendars and calendar events have raised more than $250,000 so far. The Aug. 22 party raised a record $40,300 for The Children's Hospital Burn Center, said
Yvette Rebik, a Fired up for Kids committee member, who also does public relations for the nonprofit.
The idea of a firefighter calendar to raise money for kids was a no brainer, Rebik said.
"It's the whole rescue thing," Rebik said. "Women can't help themselves."
Women lined up Aug. 22 to get their calendars autographed by each of the month's models. Some of the women were disappointed to learn many of the firefighters were off the market, but those who are single were auctioned off later in the night for dates.
Rosier, 36, and Godek, 39, competed against more than 40 firefighters for their titles -- Mr. December and Mr. April, respectively.
They were chosen, not just for their chiseled bodies, but because of their charismatic personalities and willingness to volunteer their time for the calendar and calendar events, Rebik said.
The first-timers were nervous before they peeled off their shirts and were lathered up with baby oil before strutting down a makeshift runaway at the Aug. 23 event to promote the calendar.
There were a few last-minute push-ups and bicep curls before they were whisked onstage to the cheers of screaming women.
"For me, this is really different," said Godek, who is self-admittedly shy. "This is as close to being a rock star as I'll ever get."
Luckily, he said, his day job has prepped him well for high-stress situations.
Their day-job co-workers enjoyed having a little fun with the centerfold's new-found sex appeal. Rosier's fellow firefighters at Engine 75 in Thornton watched what they did around him for fear of bruising the model, who bulked up for his photo shoot by "living in the gym ..."
Kidding aside, Rosier and Godek flexed and smiled because of the cause. Godek raised an additional $1,000 by taking $5 bets from his friends at the fire station, at Platte Valley Ambulance Service in Brighton and others who guessed on information such as whether Godek would be in his firefighter's helmet on or not in his photo. He's wearing his helmet and isn't holding any tools in the picture that was chosen.
In addition to doing a calendar shoot, the firefighters visited The Children's Hospital Burn Center.
"When you actually go there and walk those halls, this (event) is nothing compared to seeing that," Godek said.
Want a calendar?
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The 2009 Colorado firefighter calendar is on sale at www.firedupforkids.org. Proceeds go toward The Children's Hospital Burn Center. |