Excela goes pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month

A touch of pink is coming to local hospitals and football games for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Excela Frick, Excela Latrobe and Excela Westmoreland Hospitals will be lit up pink throughout October to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatments.

“All three front facades will be flooded with pink, and there will be electronic pink ribbon graphics,” Tom Chakurda, chief marketing and communications officer of Excela, said.

“It is a meticulously developed design.”

Chakurda said the elaborate lighting plan was put together by local company Video Horizons.

In addition to the lighting, Excela is partnering with several local high school football programs and Seton Hill University to raise awareness and funds.

Pink ribbons will show up under the Friday night lights of local high schools: Greater Latrobe, Greensburg Central Catholic, Penn Trafford, Norwin, Yough and Valley.

For every pink ribbon worn by coaches and cheerleaders, as well as the vinyl pink ribbon stickers attached to players’ helmets, Excela will donate $1 to local breast cancer nonprofit Westmoreland Walks, Inc.

The attention is important because breast cancer affects so many women, and some men, in the community, said Excela Health breast surgeon Dr. Sharon Goldstein.

“The breast cancer awareness campaign has helped with early detection, which saves lives,” Goldstein, medical director of Excela’s Breast Center, said. “It has increased funding for research which also saves lives.”

Goldstein said about one in eight women will develop the cancer at some point in their lives, and Excela is there for them through the journey.

“Our goal in the breast center is to treat every patient with dignity, respect and empathy,” she said.

“We want our patients to be comfortable reaching out to us to obtain personalized and individualized care.”