Paint the Town Pink

Pink. It’s the color of spring, the color of moms for Mother’s Day…and the color of a very special, and very vital, initiative that is going on in communities throughout the Monmouth County area for the entire month of May, called Paint the Town Pink. The annual event, from May 1 through 31, is a true collaboration between Meridian Health and surrounding towns, businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Now celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2016, Paint the Town Pink encourages every woman, age 40 and older, to have her annual mammogram. This year, 51 towns throughout the region are participating, with more business and community support than ever before. Everyone is urged to join the mission and help encourage women in your community to get their annual mammogram. For underserved women, there are also funds being raised – the Pink Fund – to help them get the free screening services they need through Meridian hospitals, because early detection is every woman’s best defense against breast cancer.

There are endless opportunities, both big and small, to get involved in this effort, including becoming a volunteer, a Pink Partner, or sponsor; attending an event or making a donation; decorating your car or decking out your home, school, or business in pink; spreading the word about Paint the Town Pink in your own community or, most importantly, pledging to schedule an annual mammogram for yourself or for a family member or friend that you care about.

Early Detection is the Best Defense Against Breast Cancer

Although there are some women who are at higher risk, the fact is that all women are at risk for breast cancer (and men can get breast cancer, also). That is why it is so important to follow this three-step plan for preventive care. Although breast cancer cannot be prevented, early detection of problems provides the greatest possibility of successful treatment.

Routine Breast Self-Exam (BSE) – a woman should begin practicing BSE by the age of 20 and continue throughout her life at the same time every month.  Regular BSE teaches women to know how their breasts normally feel, so they can detect any changes more easily.

Clinical Examination – a breast examination by a physician or clinician trained to evaluate breast problems should be part of a woman’s regular physical examination. Between the ages of 20 and 30, women should have a clinical breast examination by a health professional every three years.

Mammography – the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends yearly screening for all women ages 40 and older.  Digital mammography, an x-ray of the breast tissue, is the most effective way to detect breast cancer in its earliest stage.

Consult your health care provider regarding the screening guideline most appropriate for you.        

The Planning of Pink

In 2006, in a small office at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ, it came to someone’s attention that despite all the medical advances and the media attention paid to breast cancer, the number of women having annual mammograms was shockingly low. Armed with this disheartening statistic, a team of volunteers set out on a mission to raise awareness about the importance of early detection, annual screenings, prevention, and treatment. The team was intent upon spreading the word about how important early detection and screening are to saving lives. They adopted the mantra: “Early detection is a woman’s best defense against breast cancer.” They then devised a fun and clever way to deliver the message, deciding to “paint” Red Bank pink for one week, so the whole town would turn pink and community partners and businesses would help deliver the message. The concept was to integrate the message into the lives of women as they shopped and dined in Red Bank. As women engaged in these daily tasks, they were encouraged to pledge to have their annual mammogram. And so, Paint the Town Pink was born, and in early May 2007, Red Bank became Pink Bank. More towns signed up each year for this special week, and in 2013, Paint the Town Pink expanded to a month-long event.

Pink Plans for 2016

Once again this month, dozens of Pink Partner businesses in each town will be displaying materials to show their patrons that they support the mission. Additionally, many businesses offer unique and generous pink-themed promotions, discounts, or activities throughout the month to their patrons, and each Pink Partner location can collect donations for the Pink Fund from those who wish to contribute. There will also be a variety of fun special activities on the calendar, including entertainment, contests, games, lectures, dance events, fundraising, and more.

Want to find out more? The interactive Paint the Town Pink website and Facebook page provide a wealth of information about the history of Paint the Town Pink, a gallery of photos from previous years’ events, a listing of countless ways to get involved, a calendar of events, and links to each and every town and business that is participating, with details of what they’re planning. Be sure to visit www.PaintTheTownPink.com, call 855-PINK-411, or like the Facebook page at Paint the Town Pink for the most up-to-date list of Pink events near you.

Think Pink!