October 2009

Virginia Business Systems institutes a
'Pink Shirt Initiative' to raise awareness
and funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Race for the Cure...

Breast Cancer... It’s an unfortunate fact that most of us have known, currently know or will know someone impacted by breast cancer, whether a family member, co-worker or friend.  There will be roughly 209,000 new cases diagnosed this year alone.  Forty-four thousand will die from this deadly disease.  And while we may think it’s a disease that affects only women, this isn’t the case.  Nineteen hundred men will be diagnosed and 500 will die fighting this killer disease.  Breast cancer doesn't care who you are; white or black, rich or poor, woman or man.

Recently Jim and I were approached by VBS employee Greg Dobbs of the Richmond Service Team.  Greg wanted us to be aware of the statistics outlined above, and of the fact that he had been impacted personally.   He said, "I first began to wear a pink shirt on Mondays to show support for my friend Sharon Hunsinger, who has been fighting breast cancer for several years.  At first there were two basic reactions, either people were familiar with the movement, which originated in affiliation with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, or were curious as to why I was wearing a pink shirt.  Either way, it did not take long to realize the far reach of this horrible disease.  Sadly, many people I talked to know or have known someone with breast cancer.  I hope that by the simple gesture of wearing a pink shirt on Monday, more people will realize how many people this disease impacts, and the important work that the Susan G. Komen Foundation is doing for women with breast cancer."

Another VBS employee brings it even closer to home.  Richmond Sales Team member Monica Wilmore is a six year survivor who recently shared this observation, “Cancer is obviously a terrible disease.  The diagnosis can create many different feelings that affect not only the patient but the family and friends. Prior to my diagnosis I believed it could only happen to others, not me.”  She went on to state, “Perhaps one of the most important impacts we can have with our pink shirts will be the increased awareness. If one person goes home and performs a self exam as a result of our “Pink” initiative, then our efforts have been rewarded”.

Greg made a very special request that I would like for us as a company to get behind.  Greg wants us all to wear pink shirts on Mondays to show our support for the cause.  VBS will purchase the shirts for all employees who would like to participate.  While this is not mandatory, the hope is that we can show a unified front in support of the cause.   

What we are asking of you is very simple, we ask that each of you make a donation equal to (at least) the cost of the shirts that VBS will be purchasing for all participants, and that donations be turned in by 10/23/09.  These donations will be presented to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. To date, we have raised over $1000 to support this worthy cause, with your help we can continue to add to this total. 

Thank you,
Barry Burress

Click here to read the heart-warming letter that inspired VBS
employee, Greg Dobbs, to help us institute this campaign.