This October the Pink Ribbon Girls have once again partnered up with Klosterman Baking Company to support local breast cancer survivors with their Pink Ribbon bread loaves campaign.
The Pink Ribbon Girls are a Tipp City based 501©(3) nonprofit that organizes fundraising events throughout the year to support local women and their families who are affected by breast cancer. Their organization has held a partnership with Klosterman Baking Company for the past three years to raise money and awareness by selling Klosterman’s breads with distinct packaging that features pink crisscrossing ribbons on the ends of each half loaf. Their 12oz loaves come in a variety of white wheat, honey wheat, and whole grain breads and are found within Dayton and Cincinnati grocers such as Kroger’s, Meijer’s, and Wal-Mart to name a few.
Amy Ott, a representative of Klosterman Baking Company, explained that this marketing raises up to a $10,000 donation for the Pink Ribbon Girls.
This $10,000 goes a long way as Development Consultant of Pink Ribbon Girls, Jan Middleton, elaborates, “We can feed a family of 3 a week for roughly $100…”. Middleton is a seven year breast cancer survivor that devotes her time to the cause by helping women afflicted by this disease. She describes her labor of love as, “The best job in the world to pay it forward.”
Pink Ribbon Girls’ timeless motto of “paying it forward” is explained by Middleton as repayment to society for helping her through battling with breast cancer. Ott said it’s important to stay aware.
”Being a messenger, letting people know they are out there, being that beacon of hope for people who are diagnosed..peer support makes [The Pink Ribbon Girls] stand out,” Ott said. This beacon of hope is seen with the Pink Ribbon Girls’ Simply Fight! program that provides patients in Stage I-III breast cancer with healthy meals, housekeeping, transportation to treatment and emotional support.
“Be your own advocate. In every aspect of your life, even your health, know your own risks,” Middleton said.
The Pink Ribbon Girls asked women to take a pledge to be their own advocate for early detection with mammogram screenings and regular checkups with their physicians.
This campaign annually runs through the end of October in acknowledgement of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but Middleton stressed, “The Pink Ribbon Girls need is not only in October.”
“Everyday someone in this area needs our help,” Middleton said.