By Connie Leinbach
The Ocracoke post office has gone pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which runs to Oct. 31.
Postmaster Celeste Brooks and her staff have festooned the office indoors and out with pink as they raise money for research for this disease that affects 2.4 million women worldwide by selling breast cancer awareness stamps.
While the cost of a first-class stamp is $.82, the breast cancer stamps are selling for $1 each, Brooks said.
Last year, the Ocracoke post office ranked in the top 10 in its district at the No. 7 spot.
“I need to exceed that number this year because I want to maintain at least top 10,” she said. “I’d love to be in the top five for our little ole office here.”
A number of Ocracoke residents have battled or are battling breast cancer, she said.
She wants to raise $5,000 and thus far has raised, $1,395.
“I want everyone on Ocracoke to buy stamps,” Brooks said.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October and today (Oct. 13) is nationally recognized in the U.S. as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
The month aims to promote screening and reduce the risk of the disease. This year’s program is designed to:
- support people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer
- educate people about breast cancer risk factors
- motivate people — including those who identify as women, men, non-binary, or trans — to learn about their risk of breast cancer
- encourage people to go for regular breast cancer screening — for women, regular scans begin at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk
- raise money for breast cancer research