By Donald Halsing
Framingham State University’s Police Department is participating in the annual #PinkPatchProject during October to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
According to the Pink Patch Project website, the program was initiated in 2013 by the Seal Beach, California Police Department. Two years later, the Irwindale, California Police Department started selling patches and raised over $20,000 for breast cancer research and treatment.
Since then, hundreds of first responder departments across the U.S. – and a few in foreign countries – have begun selling their own Pink Patches, including the FSU Police Department.
FSUPD Sergeant Martin Laughlin said proceeds from Pink Patch sales at FSU support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
He added the department participates in the project every year to raise awareness about breast cancer.
“Cancer doesn’t stop,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s a daily thing, weekly thing, a yearly thing – it’s always there. And the month of October is our month to raise awareness.”
He said Pink Patch sales in 2020 were lower than previous years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year, “Sales have been going very well.”
During the month of October, FSUPD officers are wearing Pink Patches on their uniforms, and patrol vehicles have been decorated with pink ribbons. The Department posted pictures of the patches and ribbons on their Facebook page to increase awareness and show their support.
Throughout September, the Department posted pictures on their Facebook page promoting the project. These included several pictures of students and others showing o[ their Pink Patches posted Sept. 13.
Community Resource Officer Katelyn Kelley’s personal story about breast cancer was shared in a post on the department’s Facebook page. The post includes a photo with the caption, “Officer Kelley proudly displays the Pink Patch in memory of her Aunt who passed away from a brave fight with Breast Cancer in 2018.”
Laughlin said, “I think the whole Police Department feels it’s an honor to help out – anything we can do to raise awareness for the deadly disease. People are surviving cancer, people have passed from cancer, but we just want to support the cause.”
Pink patches can be purchased at the campus bookstore or through the FSU website and cost $10 each.
Link to the Pink Patch Page: https://www.alumni.framingham.edu/pinkpatch