SOMERVILLE – Somerset County law enforcement will be in the pink this month.
In what has become an annual observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, five police cars were decked out in pink for the October awareness campaign.
The vehicles will be used by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Far Hills, Branchburg and Warren police departments.
The cars were unveiled Friday outside the Historic Courthouse.
“Law enforcement is in a unique position to help raise awareness of this terrible disease,” said Somerset County District Attorney John McDonald. “This campaign is proof positive that our employees are deeply committed to the communities they serve.”
The Far Hills Race Meet, RWJBarnabas Health Steeplechase Cancer Center and Peapack-Gladstone Bank funded the packaging. The main beneficiary of the Centennial Far Hills Race Meeting to be held on October 15th at Far Hills was Somerville Hospital.
“I am very grateful to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and law enforcement for once again wrapping their cars in pink to raise awareness of breast cancer,” said Somerset County Commissioner Director Chanelle Robinson. “This annual effort saves lives by encouraging women to get health screenings and detect breast cancer early.”
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McDonald also stressed that breast cancer awareness and early detection is key to fighting the disease, which is the second most common cancer among women in the United States.
“Breast cancer recognizes no racial, socioeconomic or jurisdictional boundaries,” the prosecutor said. “About one in eight women will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection is key to offering more treatment options and increasing survival.”
The vehicles will be patrolling their respective jurisdictions for residents to sign and take pictures with during October.
The vehicles are also equipped with a QR code to scan on the outside of the vehicle for anyone interested in scheduling a mammogram appointment through RWJBarnabas Health.
In June, American Cancer Society reported that the number of women in the United States who reported having undergone recent (in the past year) screening for breast or cervical cancer decreased by 2.1 million (6%) and 4, respectively. 5 million (11%) in 2020 compared to 2018 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For women at average risk of breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that those ages 40 to 44 be eligible to begin annual mammograms; those 45 to 54 should have an annual mammogram; and those 55 and older can switch to biannual mammograms or continue annual mammograms. Women should continue with mammograms as long as general health is good and life expectancy is 10 years or more.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deek is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Counties Somerset and Hunterdon, please subscribe or activate your digital account