Tough enough to wear pink

The little pink ribbon, the universal symbol for the fight against breast cancer, has made a huge impact on cancer research and awareness throughout the world.

The Oregon Foundation Quarter Horse Club recently decided to try the idea of wearing pink for a day at their first annual Regional Foundation Quarter Horse Show in Eugene at the Oregon Horse Center.

They banded together, both men and women, and chose the dreaded disease of cancer as their target.

Darcy Marshall of Sisters Veterinary Clinic contacted Ft. Dodge Animal Health to explain their club was raising money to be donated to cancer research. Ft. Dodge Animal Health quickly donated $250 and then turned around and challenged the club members and the other competitors to meet or beat that amount.

This club doesn't horse around when it comes to beating disease, so they chose to call the day, "The Foundation Fights Back 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink' Day."

Club President and President of Warne Manufacturing Company in Tualatin, Charlie Lake, said, "I'm not sure what the hangup with wearing pink for guys is, but I have no problem with it; besides, I thought I looked good in pink! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire show and I'm proud to have been a part of such a wonderful charitable cause."

The event venue, Oregon Horse Center, has a café and gave 40 percent of its revenues that day to the Club.

Marshall, who lost her dad to skin cancer when she was a teen said, "Everyone in the Club has known someone that has had or is currently fighting cancer. The more we do to increase awareness, the more people will donate. This is a very important cause for me. It is a great honor that I'm involved with a club that is so giving. The event was a sea of pink. Even though there were other clubs there and we are all competitors, it felt like we were on the same team that day, there was so much camaraderie."

When the day was done over $1,000 was raised and donated to battle breast cancer.

Dental Hygienist Uriel Fox, who is employed by Brad Braman DMD, PC in Sisters, had an idea for oral health gift boxes for cancer patients. The goal is 500 boxes with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and all things for oral health to be donated to the Sara Fisher Breast Cancer Project.

There are many tireless crusaders for cancer research and yet more than 211,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year.

Because you know your body better than your doctor, it's possible you'll notice any changes before your physician will. Nothing beats regular breast exams. And despite all the information about breast cancer, only about 27 percent of women get mammograms according to the National Cancer Institute.

Mammograms are not foolproof but they are important for early detection, and that alone can save your life.