7 red towboats go pink in October to bring breast cancer awareness to the water
by BoatUS 28 Sep 2023 19:47 UTC
TowBoatUS Lake Texoma, Oklahoma's pink response boat is raising awareness of breast cancer around the lake, and helping to drive donations to find a cure © Scott Croft
At any other time of year, the red towing response vessels of the on-water TowBoatUS towing fleet are helping recreational boaters get home after their boats have broken down or run aground. However, in October, seven TowBoatUS response boats across the country have been turned pink to bring the message of breast cancer awareness to the water in hopes of saving lives and finding a cure for a disease that affects 1 in every 8 women.
The seven locally owned and operated companies running pink boats for October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month include TowBoatUS Boston, Massachusetts; TowBoatUS Daytona, Florida; TowBoatUS Lake Texoma, Oklahoma; TowBoatUS Mobile, Alabama; TowBoatUS Chicago, Illinois; TowBoatUS San Diego, California; and TowBoatUS Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this year an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. However, if caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 99%. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly increased breast cancer survival rates in recent years, and there are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The National Breast Cancer Foundation offers early detection tips including monthly breast self-exams and how to schedule a mammogram.
"As boating industry leaders and local community members, our local TowBoatUS towing companies wholeheartedly agree that breast cancer is worthy of our undivided attention as Breast Cancer Awareness Month approaches," said TowBoatUS spokesperson Scott Croft. "These companies have been personally impacted by this terrible disease. Changing seven of our on-water response vessels from red to pink is a simple, impactful and meaningful effort raise awareness and seek out donations to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Coming together from all across the country to show support in our individual communities as well as a whole organization is incredibly important to us all."
The seven pink TowBoatUS response vessels range in size from 21 to 34 feet, and will make it easy for boaters to donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation as each are carrying special QR donation codes on their hull sides to allow boaters to make donations while on the water. Additionally, some TowBoatUS companies are adding local outreach efforts including TowBoatUS San Diego hosting a Paddleboard Poker Run fundraiser on October 7.