'Tis the Season for Color
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With October’s arrival, Nature’s display of color grows more diverse and intense as Mother Earth in Montana slips her hips from her green gown, trading it for one variegated with orange, yellow, burgundy, and gold. Pink is another color common in October when people all over the world show their support for those affected by breast cancer. Various Blaine County businesses are supporting the awareness crusade with signage, pink-themed products on their shelves, or actual promotions.
One business, American Garage will again participate in the Brakes for Breasts campaign. According to co-owner Heather DePriest, their business is a TechNet Shop. TechNet Professional Automotive Service Centers are a group of locally-owned and professionally operated shops with the benefits of a nationwide network. According to DePriest, TechNet was established to provide independently owned service centers the technical solutions, ongoing training, marketing tools, and business resources needed to advance their service centers, allowing them to service more motorists and grow their brand in their own communities.
Because TechNet supports the Brake for Breasts campaign and because the American Garage family considers the cause an important one, they decided to join their fundraising efforts. Brakes for Breasts is an organization that unites the hands of independent auto repair shops during the month of October. As an industry, TechNet stands united “to put the Brakes on Breast Cancer!”
“The way the program works is this; if anyone has their brakes replaced in the month of October, they can either opt to get a $40 pre-paid Mastercard or to donate the $40 to Breast Cancer Research. To qualify, they must replace their brake pads, which have to be a TechNet Brand part, and they must be installed by a TechNet Professional Service Center, like our shop is. We send in all the paperwork for our customers; all they have to do is get the services done and tell us what option they would prefer, and their card will come in the mail or TechNet will make a donation on their behalf,” DePriest explained.
DePriest went on to say that donations go to the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund. If a customer’s service during the month of October does not qualify for a rebate or a person wishes to donate more, Brakes for Breasts is accepting donations via text message. To participate in this way, a person has simply to text B4B to 52182 and select a donation amount. “We love supporting important causes like this,” DePriest added.
Although Ace Hardware won’t be doing anything beyond the ordinary in October, they do conduct fundraisers for Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena multiple times throughout the year. The only facility in Montana to offer both acute and residential treatment services, Shodair Children’s Hospital is Montana’s premier provider of psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents. The facility also offers comprehensive genetic services for people of all ages.
As of 2021, the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research reports that breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. In the spirit of awareness, the report also dispels some myths:
• Antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.
• No lumps = no breast cancer.
• Men cannot get breast cancer.
• Wearing a bra can cause breast cancer.
• A relatively healthy person doesn’t need to be concerned with breast health.
• Breast cancer is caused from mammograms.
While many people may believe the foregoing statements, research has proven them untrue. Breast Cancer Awareness month—with its pink ribbons, pink apparel, pink chocolates, and other pink-themed products—reminds us all to do our homework and to get the facts about early detection, crucial preventative steps, and treatments available. Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It’s the second leading cause of death in women.
Beyond Blaine County, the White House was illuminated pink on October 1 in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And coming later this month, Friday, October 22, some youth will participate in Real Kids Wear Pink Day.
In 2017, Carli O’Hara launched Real Kids in Albany, New York, with the goal of engaging other students in fundraising and philanthropy around this important cause. The eleven-year-old challenged all students, regardless of their age, to wear pink and to make a donation to the American Cancer Society on the annual Real Kids Wear Pink Day as a way to fight back against breast cancer.
In 2021, the American Cancer Society’s goal is to continue to grow the program within more schools and to have even more children joining in the official Real Kids Wear Pink Day on October 22. According to an American Cancer Society spokesperson, “If everyone makes a donation and wears pink, together we can send a powerful message and save lives.”
Seeing PINK everywhere in October doesn’t need to bring heartache, depression, or a reminder of the battle some of us are fighting or that others have lost. It can be the reminder that many need—to be aware of their bodies and to do exams (i.e. breasts, skin, testicular) for early detection and treatment of whatever they find lurking. In order to be in the pink of health, we need knowledge.
