Still Time to Pink Your Ride!

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By Donna Sellman
We’re two weeks into Paint the Town Pink, and the pink hue throughout Mon­mouth and Ocean counties is brighter than ever.
A few things are new this year, including the fact that participation has increased to two counties and 23 towns, and that instead of a one-week initiative, Paint the Town Pink is taking place for the entire month of May.
Perhaps one of the most well received new components is Pink Your Ride. It’s very likely that at some point, you’ve been driving around and a flash of pink has gone whizzing by. No, you’re not seeing things. Just as so many things in our lives have gone mobile, so has the pink movement.
The concept of Paint the Town Pink is to create awareness about the importance of annual mammography by having constant reminders throughout the community. Whether you are running errands, getting the kids to school and sporting activities or rushing to and from work, the abundance of pink should be a bold reminder to stop and make your appointment (or to urge a loved one to make her appointment).

Area residents are invited to Pink Your Ride to help get the message out about getting regular mammograms.
Area residents are invited to Pink Your Ride to help get the message out about getting regular mammograms.

By taking the initiative mobile, there are even more reminders than ever. There are three parts to Pink Your Ride. First, there is a circular magnet that says “Paint the Town Pink … A Meridian Health Event.” Then there is a rectangular window cling that says, “I Pinked My Ride.” The best part, though, is the big pink paint splotch! No, it’s not literally paint thrown on the car. It is a large pink paint splotch cling that allows you to write your own personal message for a fun and unique approach to the cause.
The messages range from serious to lighthearted and downright funny. A few pink messages that have been spotted on the roads include:
 
“Early detection saved my mom and my aunt”
“Fight like a girl!”
“Real Men Drive Pink”
“Check Yourself”
 
So, what’s the benefit of writing your own message? It gets people’s attention. They stop and read it. Some smile and turn away. Some give a thumbs up. And some even stop and start a conversation.
One person had a humorous message on the side of her car, and her gas attendant commented on it. She took the opportunity to share how important it is for women to get an annual mammogram, and the attendant said that he’d been bugging his wife for a long time to make an appointment. Perhaps he went home that night and reminded her again. Let’s hope she made the call.
There’s still time for you to pink your ride and help share the message! Free Pink Your Ride materials are still available at pickup locations throughout the pink towns. To find one closest to you, visit PainttheTownPink.com and find your Pink Up Point.
In addition to supporting this important initiative, being part of Pink Your Ride has a competitive edge as well. You can enter your pinked-up vehicle in the Tom’s Ford decorating contest. So add your own flair, drive your car proudly around town for the remainder of the month of May. Be sure to take a picture of your ride and submit it to Pink@tomsford.com. The winner will be chosen and announced on May 31. The grand-prize winner will receive glory, fame and a full auto detail job courtesy of the Detail Doctor in Shrewsbury.
Paint the Town Pink runs from May 1 through June 1.
For more information about Paint the Town Pink visit www.PainttheTownPink. com. Be sure to follow Paint the Town Pink on Facebook to see highlights of this year’s campaign and for a complete list of events and activities.
 
Donna Sellman is the manager of public relations at Ocean Medical Center in Brick.
 
The Two River Times™ is a 2013 sponsor of Paint the Town Pink, a breast cancer awareness initiative sponsored by Meridian Health System. Additional information about Paint the Town Pink can be found at www.PainttheTownPink.com.