FSUPD launches 8th annual ‘Pink Patch Project’

By Bella Grimaldi

News Editor

During the month of October, recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Framingham State Police Department is launching their 8th annual ‘Pink Patch Project,’ according to Sergeant Harry Singh.

During this month, University Police officers will sell pink patches to raise awareness for breast cancer. 

Patches can be purchased using a barcode on the ‘Pink Patch Project’ flyer, which can be found on FSUPD’s social media.

Patches are $10.00, and all proceeds go to Susan G. Komen New England.

Susan G. Komen New England is a non-profit organization that supports breast cancer research and patients.  

Susan G. Komen was a breast cancer patient who died in 1980. Her sister, Nancy Brinker, founded the organization in 1982. 

According to Singh, FSUPD has worked with the non-profit since 2017, when University Police started participating in the project.

Singh said the patches this year have a new look. 

“Somebody asked me, ‘Why do you want to change the patch?’ … Because we always want to bring something new every year,” he said. 

He said the new design was made through Dirty Water Collectibles, a custom patch, pin, and decal shop based in Saugus.

According to Singh, Domenico Montano, an officer in the Saugus Police Department, designed the new patches.  

“He’s really creative. He does patches, he does coins - he’s done our Ramsey coin. And then he has done our department coins,” he said. 

Singh added for the first time, University Police officers are wearing pink and gold badges for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In past years, FSUPD officers wore the same patches given to donors on their uniforms. This year, officers wear exclusive badges designed for the department, according to Singh. 

“Like I say every year, our goal is to keep doing better. Our goal is to keep growing. Our goal is to show that we care and we want to give back to our community,” said Singh.

For the month of September, FSUPD wore black-and-gold patches for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and to support the Jimmy Fund, according to a social media post from University Police. 

The post said this cause "holds a special place in Officer [Steven] Martel’s heart as his son Kole was diagnosed with leukemia at 11 months old and has been receiving treatment [through] the Jimmy Fund for almost two years.”

Martel said this is the first year FSUPD has collaborated with the Jimmy Fund.

According to their website, the Jimmy Fund is a fundraising community that works to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and its research. 

Kole’s mother, Courtney Martel, said the family was referred to the Jimmy Fund from the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. 

She said their family has worked with the Jimmy Fund since 2023. 

According to Courtney Martel, she and her husband contacted the FSUPD chief about wearing the patch to raise awareness for childhood cancer. 

“I have seen ‘Go Gold’ in other police departments and I wanted to implement that here because you guys do ‘Pink Patch,’” she said.

Martel said he saw another municipality from Holyoke wearing childhood cancer awareness patches. 

According to Courtney Martel, the Martels made the design and Dirty Water Collectibles created the patch.  

She said her goal in collaborating with FSUPD was to raise donations for the Jimmy Fund and to raise awareness for childhood cancer. 

According to Singh, they raised $617.25 from selling the childhood cancer awareness patches.

“The whole point behind all of this is to raise awareness. People don’t realize how much childhood cancer is underfunded and not talked about enough,” said Courtney Martel. 

Singh said, “We just want to give back. I think giving back is one of the nicest things we can do as a human being. We want to give back to the cause and no matter what the cause is, I think it just stands out.”

According to Singh, FSUPD will be wearing patches for the month of April to spread awareness for autism. 

He said this is the first year FSUPD will be wearing these patches. 

Singh said, “We’re representing our students, staff and faculty, not just our officers. At the end of the day, that’s why we do what we do.”

Graduate student Olivia Putnam said she didn’t know University Police were raising awareness for breast cancer. 

She added, “I feel like there’s not enough awareness for stuff like that. And anything helps - so many people pass away from different cancers. More needs to be done about it.”

Freshman Jasiel Cólon said he hadn’t heard of the Pink Patch Project but believes it is important to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Freshman Maria Vitoria Machado said she supports FSUPD raising awareness about childhood cancer and autism. 

She added she feels good about FSUPD raising awareness for breast cancer through the Pink Patch Project.

“I think we should spread more awareness because not a lot of people know about it and it is important,” she said.

Freshman Julian Lison said FSUPD raising awareness through the project “is great. They should keep doing it.”

Sophomore David Forgione said he believes it's a good idea to raise awareness about breast cancer.

“I think it shines a really good light on our police department when they do things outside of the Framingham State community to benefit everyone,” he said.

He added he believes its good FSUPD is raising awareness about childhood cancer and autism because they are underfunded areas. 

Forgione said, “I think we need to raise awareness as much as possible because no kid deserves to go uncared for.”