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Township Council Recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Honors FTPD And Sister 2 Sister

Mayor Phil Kramer, Deputy Mayor Shanel Robinson and Dorothy Reed, founder of the Sister 2 Sister Network, (left to right, center), as group members look on at the Oct. 9 council meeting.


The Township Council on Oct. 9 recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month by honoring a township organization and the police department.

Deputy mayor Shanel Robinson presented a proclamation from the council, recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to Sister 2 Sister founder Dorothy Reed. Sister 2 Sister, headquartered on Hamilton Street, supports African American and underserved women as they fight breast cancer.

After the proclamation was read, Franklin Township Police Chief Richard Grammar spoke about the department’s embrace of the “Pink Patch Project” to raise money for breast cancer research.

“We work so hard all year trying to bring awareness to breast cancer,” Reed said. “It’s unfortunate that minorities and underserved women die more of breast cancer than any other ethnic group, so that’s what we try to bring awareness to, so that women will take charge of their health.”

“If they need help, if they don’t have insurance, then they will contact Sister 2 Sister because we’re here to help them,” she said.

FTPD Chief Richard Grammar talks about the Pink Patch Project.

Grammar said that FTPD Capt. Greg Borlan found the Pink Patch Project, based in California, and brought it to the department. Through the program, officers are allowed to swap out their regular uniform patch for a special version in pink.

“These are to raise awareness for breast cancer,” he said.

But the FTPD didn’t stop with the patches, he said. The department also had a car wrapped in pink for the month.

“Other officers got involved.” he said. “Sgt. Gregory Price … had the idea about the pink car. And we wrapped the car in pink and it’s gotten an overwhelming response. We’re going to have it at events throughout the township this whole month.”

Grammar thanked the township PBA local 154 for providing funding for the patches, car wrap and for special t-shirts that officers are selling to raise money for Sister 2 Sister.

“The money for this, for the car, for the patches for the shirts, all the money was put up by the PBA,” Grammar said. “This did not come out of taxpayer dollars in any way.”

FTPD Lt. Phil Rizzo and Capt. Greg Borlan, left to right, sporting their pink patches at the Township Council meeting.

The Stage House restaurant and Corner cafe and Deli, both on Amwell Road, will also allow the department to park the pink car in their parking lots and sell t-shirts, he said.

“So I’m really hopeful that in about a month, we’re going to be handing Dorothy a big ‘ol check,” Grammar said.

“We feel so humbled by this,” Reed said. “We just thank you so much, Franklin Police department, for thinking about us. The money’s that’s raised will be going to women who are going through treatment, to pay utility bills, whatever they need.”

“They will be encouraged and they will continue with their treatment,” she said. “So many times, minority and underserved women stop treatment because of the bills. A lot of times they can’t juggle it and they stop treatment, or they put the treatment on hold, which is something you should not do.”

 

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