Snellville, Ga. (September 6, 2024) – Piedmont Eastside Medical Center has named Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services Firefighter, Michael Sayles as the September First Friday Hero. 

September is Lymphoma Awareness Month and this year, Sayles is celebrating a decade of being cancer-free of Hodgkin's lymphoma! He is the owner of a famous pink firetruck that goes around Gwinnett County. Sayles founded the Gwinnett Chapter for Pink Heals and drives his pink truck around communities to offer hope to men and women, with any form of cancer. 

Being a survivor and understanding the needs of those with cancer, he is grateful to be able to still be here, to be able to do so now, for others. Just like those who came before, to help him when he was diagnosed several years ago.

Piedmont Eastside uses the First Friday Heroes program to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. 
“Their line of work is often a thankless job, and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make Gwinnett County a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Eastside CEO Larry Ebert. 

In 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 2-million new cancer cases in the United States.