Pink Out Your Braces for Breast Cancer Awareness
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Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” For National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Mount Juliet, Hermitage, and Spring Hill Snodgrass-King dental offices are participating in The Pink Out Program. To participate, for every patient that places pink on their braces during the month of October, we will donate $1/arch to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. If you take a selfie with your pink braces and #PINKOUTSK on social media, we will donate another $1!
We interviewed Dr. Heidi Sottek to learn more about why she began the program and how to be a part of raising money for breast cancer awareness. You can find this interview below.
What Inspired you to begin the pink out program at Snodgrass-King Dental Associates?
It was probably the second time that my aunt went through breast cancer that I decided to do this. She is a two-time survivor. I put on the same program back when I was in the military, and I just thought it was so cool to see the military guys wearing pink on their braces.
It was actually one of my assistants that said we should definitely do the same Pink Out Program for Snodgrass-King that I had done in the military. In years past, we’ve even had patients choose pink on their own for their braces in October – boys and girls. It’s kind of neat.
In addition to raising money for breast cancer, what is your motivation for the pink out program?
The motivating factor is to see these people come together for a cause.
Just the other day, a patient chose pink and shared that her aunt who passed away from breast cancer. Another time, a mom was wearing a pink ribbon and her cousin had passed away the year before from breast cancer. People just start to really open up during October, and that is part of the healing process. The connection and support… we had to take a sixteen-year-old teen’s braces off because she had breast cancer. It’s heart breaking.
It’s still early in October, but how is the program going so far?
In just the first three or four days, we have already raised over $100 already.
What other ways have you participated in breast cancer awareness?
I ran my first race in Detroit for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. That became a tradition that I continued doing in the military as well. It’s a cool 5k to do. The survivors wear a different color shirt so that you can see who they are among other racers.
Dr. Jason J. Roedig at the Spring Hill office is also passionate about raising awareness. He shares a lot of his time helping his aunt’s non-profit breast cancer foundation, Chicks & Chucks, Inc.
In addition to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is National Orthodontic Health Month. We want to celebrate both by putting pink rubber bands on your braces to “grin for a good cause.” Schedule your next appointment, and join us in Pink Out this October.
