Downtown Bozeman will turn PNK for the entire month of October with pink banners lining Main Street and window decorations at many of downtown’s retailers and restaurants. Participating businesses will offer “PNK Promotions” with funds going towards local organizations that provide resources and support for those in our community affected by cancer.
Montana State University and Bobcat Athletics are encouraging fans to participate in the annual “Pack the Place in Pink” event at the November 4th home football game to promote breast cancer awareness. Don’t forget to stick around following the game, as the Bobcats volleyball team faces Northern Arizona at 7pm in Shroyer Gym.
To participate, individuals are invited to purchase limited-edition apparel featuring a special “Pack the Place in Pink” Bobcat logo and wear it to the game against Northern Arizona in Bobcat Stadium. This year, the items for purchase include a pink short-sleeved shirt, a pink crew neck sweatshirt, a gray hooded sweatshirt and navy beanies. The apparel will be available for purchase on Oct. 10th at Universal Athletic and the MSU Bookstore. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Pack the Place in Pink organization, a nonprofit supporting breast cancer patients in Montana, providing them with financial assistance in all of our local communities.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 950 women in the state of Montana were diagnosed with breast cancer last year. As of 2018 in the greater Gallatin Valley, approximately one fourth of breast cancers were diagnosed in women under the age of 50. And, while not as common, approximately 2,650 men a year throughout the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer. October was designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985 to raise awareness and gain funding for research for a cure, while elevating education around the importance of annual and early screening.
PNKBZN seeks to: enhance local mindfulness and adherence of following screening guidelines for breast care; spread awareness on how to access screenings and diagnostic screenings and other resources; increase the community conversation around cancer awareness; and provide inspirational stories of people in our community who are living with breast cancer.
Community resources and program information is located at www.downtownbozeman.org/PNKBZN and www.PinkBozeman.com. A list of PNK promotions will also be available through the DBA website. The monthlong event is hosted by PNKBZN community partners, with inclusions from other community partners.
PNKBZN, a community-wide awareness campaign for the month of October, is the result of collaboration and ideas from local Bozeman organizations: Advanced Medical Imaging, Bozeman Health, Cancer Support Community Montana, Downtown Bozeman Partnership, Montana State University and Montana State University Athletics, with graphic design support from PRIME Incorporated. •