It all started in 2013 when the Seal Beach Police Department in southern California wore pink patches on their uniforms during the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Two years later, the Irwindale Police Department in California raised over $20,000 for the City of Hope - one of the nation's largest cancer centers - by selling its own pink patches. Chief Anthony Miranda then took this fundraising idea to the Los Angeles Police Chiefs Association, and 25 local agencies joined the Pink Patch Project campaign. Since then, roughly 900,000 patches have been sold and about $1.4 million has been raised for breast cancer research organizations.

Currently, over 500 agencies around the world participate. Twelve of those agencies are in Pennsylvania, and nine of those 12 are in Lancaster County. This year, for the first time, the Strasburg Borough Police Department (SBPD), 145 Precision Avenue, Strasburg, will participate in the Pink Patch Project campaign.

"As a police department, we're always looking for a different approach to evolve how we serve our community, and this is one way ... we can do that," explained SBPD patrolman Robert Burns.

Throughout the month of October, the SBPD will wear special pink versions of its shoulder patch on the regular duty uniforms. By doing so, the SBPD hopes to stimulate conversation with the public and bring awareness to this effort. Every agency involved with the Pink Patch Project donates all the proceeds from patch sales to an organization of its choosing, and the SBPD chose the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. Since its founding, the PA Breast Cancer Coalition has been able to donate $4.3 million to various programs, studies, and medical institutions for breast cancer research.

"It's a great organization," said Burns. "They're doing a good job and we're trying to do a good job for them."

Individuals interested in purchasing a pink patch can do so at the SBPD. The patches are also for sale on eBay. Local retailers that sell the standard SBPD patch, such as the Toy Train Museum and the Strasburg Rail Road, will also sell the pink patch.

"The sooner we find a cure, the less people will be impacted by this disease, and the more funds we raise, the quicker that can happen," stated Burns.

To learn more about the Pink Patch Project, visit https://pinkpatchproject.com.