October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, and, excluding skin cancers, the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. Each year, thousands of women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Verona PBA Local 72 is joining the fight against breast cancer and wants to raise awareness within our community. “We are out there every day, patrolling the streets, helping people, driving in marked police cars, in full uniform. We are hard to miss”, said Robert Shafer Verona PBA member and initiative founder. “We can use that visibility to get a message out there”, Shafer said. That message during the month of October will be breast cancer awareness. The members of the Verona PBA Local 72 are getting some pink accessories for their uniforms. “We had new baseball caps and name strips embroidered with pink lettering and we are going to wear them throughout the month of October”, Shafer said.
Verona PBA President Anthony Condorelli said, “We want to do our part to raise awareness, so when Brother Shafer came up with this great idea, the members couldn’t wait to get the accessories and get started with this campaign. It’s a great way to get the message of early detection out there to our community.” Verona Police Chief Mitchell Stern fully supported the initiative and credited the members of Local 72 stating, “The members of Verona PBA Local 72 are constantly looking for new ways to help people and raise money for worthy causes. The police department is glad to be a part of the program”.
Condorelli also said that the PBA will be making shirts with a pink PBA logo that will be for sale on their website. “We are going to sell the shirts and donate the proceeds to one of the breast cancer awareness foundations”, Condorelli said.
Please visit the Verona PBA’s Facebook page for more information.