BLUEBONNET GOES PINK DURING NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  

Fall is known for its stunning display of color as trees, shrubs and grasses change from green to brilliant orange, yellow and red. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is getting in on the action in October by adding pink to its buildings, vehicles and employees to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Since 2012, Bluebonnet has used pink lights to illuminate its member service centers, added pink magnetic ribbons to its trucks, handed out pink ribbon pins in the communities it serves and replaced its familiar blue-and-white hard hats with pink ones. This year Bluebonnet employees are sporting pink t-shirts to remind people of the ongoing effort to raise funds to support prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

“Breast cancer is one of the most significant health risks to women,” said Mark Rose, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “Each year, about a quarter of a million women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by this disease. Great strides have been made in preventing and treating breast cancer, but we can do more.”

Carmen Uballe, a member service representative in Bluebonnet’s Manor office, knows too well the impact breast cancer can have on a family. Uballe was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago after a mammogram that she had twice postponed revealed cancer. Uballe survived breast cancer, as did her mother and sister before her. She is thankful that organizations and companies like Bluebonnet are doing so much during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Things have changed so much during the past 12 years,” Uballe said. “Back then a lot of women hid or didn’t talk about their breast cancer. I am so happy now that awareness has increased so much. It’s so open now because of awareness, and women are getting mammograms at low cost or even free. I tell ladies to get their mammograms, don’t put it off.”

There are many resources available to learn more about breast cancer. For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute’s website at cancer.gov, the American Cancer Society at cancer.org, or the Susan G. Komen Foundation at komen.org.