Breast Cancer Awareness Month at SURF

At dusk on October 1, two pink ribbons were illuminated atop the Yates and Ross Headframes at Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). They will shine throughout the month as a visual reminder of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the initiatives planned at SURF.

Each October since 2018, the SURF community has rallied around the cause, raising funds for local breast cancer patients, going pink in creative ways, distributing helpful resources and information about breast cancer, and sharing how the disease has impacted their lives. This year will be no different.

Here is what’s in store for Breast Cancer Awareness Month at SURF in 2021.

Supporting local breast cancer patients

Each year, our incredible SURF community has raised funds for the Lead-Deadwood Foundation for Health’s “pink bubble,” which supports local breast cancer patients. This year, our goal is to raise $5,000. The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA), which manages SURF, has pledged a match up to $2,500.

“The SURF community is so proud to partner with the Foundation for Health again this year. With 100% of funds raised staying in the Northern Hills, the Foundation is committed to helping our neighbors win their fight with cancer,” said Mike Headley, executive director of SURF. “The SDSTA has committed $2,500 in matching funds to encourage our staff to help support this worthy cause.”

The Foundation for Health has been providing opportunities to the community with health, safety and personal needs for more than 34 years. The Foundation for Health also runs the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign during the Days of ’76 Rodeo to increase support for breast cancer patients in the area. 

“We call it our ‘pink bubble,’” said Laurie Wince, director of the Foundation for Health. “All funds raised in the name of breast cancer go directly to helping those patients specifically.”

The Foundation for Health’s pink bubble bridges daily living costs for breast cancer patients that aren’t addressed by medical insurance. These include transportation to and from treatments, travel and lodging for the patient and their families, and lymphedema compression sleeves. Funds are also used for nutrition, pre- and post-testing and education. The Foundation for Health also provided funds to the Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital to redo a section of flooring to stabilize the mammogram machine. 

“One thing I want to emphasize is that the funds from this campaign stay local,” said Wince. Patients eligible for these funds live primarily in Lead and Deadwood, with a few in the greater Northern Hills. 

Help us reach our $5,000 goal by giving online or at donation boxes located around the facility.

Punt, Pass & Kick fundraising competition

This year, SURF is hosting a Punt, Pass & Kick competition to raise funds for the Foundation for Health.

SURF staff and partners are invited to show off their football skills (or lack thereof). Scoring will be based on both distance and accuracy, but participants can also donate their way to the top of the leaderboard. All proceeds will be donated to the Lead-Deadwood Foundation for Health.

Special thanks to the City of Deadwood for offering the use of Ferguson Field free-of-charge for this fundraising event.

Going pink to raise awareness

Throughout the month of October, staff will wear pink on Fridays and pick up free pink hardhat ribbon stickers, Breast Cancer Awareness silicon bracelets and pink ribbon facemasks. There will even be a “Decorate your workspace in pink” contest and prizes. 

But it doesn’t stop with pink.

The purpose of pink is to focus attention on topics such as breast cancer awareness, risk and early detection, and the need for continued treatment research that can save lives. Throughout the month of October, staff and partners will be given resources about breast cancer, as well as an opportunity to share how their lives have been impacted by the disease.

To learn more about breast cancer, visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.