Nothing looks more pretty in pink that seeing a group of employees come together for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We at Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance are showing our support for this health initiative by taking part in special events and encouraging employees to wear pink around the office on “Pink Fridays.” According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. It accounts for nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in women. In 2013, it is estimated that more than 232,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed among American women. By the end of the year, an estimated 39,620 will die from the disease. There are statistics that show some progress is being made against this terrible disease. A new report from the American Cancer Society reveals death rates from breast cancer in the U.S. have dropped 34 percent since 1990. But the report also says, “the rate at which new breast cancers are diagnosed increased slightly among African American women from 2006 to 2010, bringing those rates closer to those of white women, who still have the highest diagnosis rates among women ages 40 and older.” Part of the battle against breast cancer is making people aware of the disease and ways to fight it. Angel MedFlight is holding “Pink Fridays” during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with employees encouraged to wear pink around the office. Our business development team has designed a special pink Angel MedFlight t-shirt which is being sold at the office and on our online apparel store. A portion of the proceeds from the t-shirt sales are going toward the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The simple gesture of wearing pink at the office may remind someone to get a mammogram or clinical breast exam. The American Cancer Society recommends both for women 40 and older. This past Sunday, Angel MedFlight took part in the 21st annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Phoenix. Among the thousands of area residents who took part in the morning one-mile walk and the 5K race was Angel MedFlight Director of Community Relations, Jackie Martinez. “It was great to see the community united for a cause. I saw mothers, daughters, sisters, grandchildren, husbands. All that have either lost the battle against breast cancer or know someone who is fighting it.” Martinez has an aunt who has been directly affected by breast cancer and one of her good friends was just diagnosed. “It was very emotional being out there as you really see the toll breast cancer has taken on so many lives,” says Martinez. She says after running the five kilometers and then catching up with her family for the remainder of the walk, she became quite tired, “but I thought this isn’t a part of what breast cancer patients have to go through” and she pushed herself to the finish. While many great strides have been made , Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance reminds you so much more needs to be done in the fight against breast cancer. There’s more information on the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website (http://www.nbcam.org).