‘Pink Patch Project’ is Deeply Personal for University Police
By Christine Vaughan
University Police uniforms have a special touch of pink this month as CSUSM officers participate in the Pink Patch Project, a nationwide effort to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
“It’s a cause that is personally important to me,” said Lt. Philip Brust, who brought the initiative to CSUSM three years ago. “Breast cancer is a terrible disease that destroys the lives of so many, and I am fully committed to finding a cure.”
Brust knows firsthand the devastating impact of breast cancer. A few years ago, he lost his mother, Dorothy, to breast cancer, and then shortly after, his sister, Kay, was diagnosed with the disease. And although his sister has been living cancer-free for four years now, the fear of the cancer returning, like it did for their mother, weighs heavily on the family.
Every year, more than 40,000 women and men die in the U.S. from breast cancer, and approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
The Pink Patch Project, which was started by the Irwindale Police Department in 2013, has grown to include more than 200 law enforcement and public safety agencies nationwide. Last year, nearly half a million dollars was raised collectively for cancer research organizations.
Throughout October, University Police are selling commemorative patches for $10 and keychains for $7, with 100 percent of sales benefiting Susan G. Komen San Diego.
“There is a cure out there; we just need to find it,” said Officer Jeff Caudill, whose mother is a survivor of a rare form of breast cancer that was originally misdiagnosed. “Keeping the conversation at the forefront – along with knowing the importance of early detection and intervention – will save lives and ultimately help us find a cure sooner.”
Visit the University Police booth in front of the University Student Union during U-Hour (noon to 1 p.m.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays for resources on breast cancer and to support the Pink Patch Project.
Media Contact
Christine Vaughan, Creative Communications Officer
cvaughan@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-4409