Two local professional firefighters are pin-ups in a calendar they're selling to raise money to play in the World Police and Fire Games in New York City.

 Bridgewater's Darren Dahl and Jamie Graven of Pine Grove, also known as Mr. August and Mr. December in the calendar, will suit up for the Halifax Smokeeaters softball team in the Big Apple in August 2011.

 "We're going down to be competitive and have fun," said Mr. Graven, a 12-year veteran firefighter and lieutenant with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service. Mr. Dahl has eight years of service with Halifax and holds the rank of firefighter.

 Mr. Graven led the charge to enter the softball team roster of 16 into the games, which are held every two years. The softball tournament could attract 30 teams.

 The 38 year old said he decided a calendar would garner the sponsorship to help pay the cost of having nearly 5,000 copies made, get much-needed participation of members and attract buyers.

 The Smokeeaters hope to raise enough coin to pay for the hotel and flight costs and give a sizable donation to the Nova Scotia Firefighters Burn Treatment Society. The society educates about fire safety, supports the operations and activities of Halifax's QEII Health Sciences Centre and the IWK Health Centre burn units and provides assistance to burn survivors and their families.

 The softball portion of the world games lasts seven days and the Smokeeaters expect to play two games per day.

 Mr. Graven helped hand-pick the models.

 Advocate Printing and Publishing in Dartmouth produced the calendars and Halifax photographer Sue Siri snapped the stills. Calendar models posed on various days and at various sites during April and May.

 The calendar costs $15 to purchase.

 As a side note, some of the Smokeeaters anticipate sticking around a few extra days to take part in remembrance ceremonies coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.

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 The pair will be selling calendars at the Bridgewater Mall on September 11 from 4 to 6 p.m.

 To learn more about the games, check out http://2011wpfg.org on the internet.

 To find out how to buy a calendar or see where the firefighters will make their next promotional appearance, log on to http://hfxsmokeeaters.com on the internet.

posted on 09/07/10