All this month, employees of Callaway County Ambulance District are sporting festive pink uniform shirts.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and every year, district employers are given the option to wear pink to show support and raise awareness.
They can purchase these pink uniform shirts and wear them on duty rather than their regular uniform shirts for the month. Proceeds from shirt sales are donated to Pink Pursuit a non-for-profit organization in Columbia that raises money to provide mammogram services to Missouri patients whether insured, under insured or uninsured. Services are provided through Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
"What I think is really neat is that the employees choose to purchase these shirts and choose to wear them," said Susan Hertzler, a paramedic shift supervisor at Callaway County ambulance District.
Hertzler is the one who pushed for the shirts to be approved and has designed them for the last six years.
"Everyone seems to know someone that has been affected by breast cancer," she added. "I think this is a great way to show support and raise awareness in our community."