On Monday night, about two-dozen people gathered at Landmark Church of God on East Broad Street to watch the premiere of the Velocity Channel’s focus on a Mooresville-based truck-customizing business, Outcast Kustoms, and its efforts to transform a retired Lake Norman Fire Department truck.

The now-bright-pink truck is owned by the Iredell County Firefighters Association with the goal of raising awareness in the fight against women’s cancer.

The showing of the premiere was delayed by more than a half hour due to glitches in the sound system, but eventually started with Iredell Memorial Hospital oncology nurse Sarah Kivett on screen talking about her work.

“I can’t imagine working with any other group of patients,” she said on the show.

Those in attendance laughed at the antics of the crew from Outcast Kustoms, but were also touched by the stories of those affected by cancer that were interwoven into the program.

Judy Kurfees, the mother of a firefighter, talked about her bout with cancer as did retired firefighter Tommy Loftin and current Shepherds fire chief and Mooresville battalion chief Kelly Robinson.

One of the most touching moments of the program came when Lake Norman firefighter Wes Hardin talked about losing his mother to cancer and the battle his father is now waging with the disease.

“I love the pink truck,” he said as he talked about the efforts of Outcast Kustoms and a number of local firefighters to give the old truck new life.

As footage of the official unveiling of the truck, which took place on March 4, was shown, it was announced that the truck had been named Patricia in honor of Hardin’s mother.

“It’s a great honor,” he said. “It’s almost like a healing process.”

Kelvin and April Locklear, owners of Outcast Kustoms, talked on the show about how much the process of transforming the truck transformed their own perspective.

“I learned a lot,” Kelvin said. “It’s been a remarkable transformation.”

The truck will make an appearance at the Relay for Life of Statesville this weekend, weather permitting.

                                                                                                     -----This news down load from Mooresville Tribune, by Donna Swicegood.