Yale Public Safety supports Breast Cancer Awareness events

October 29, 2021

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and members of Yale Public Safety are supporting several events. This includes a local race, an awareness giveaway, and donning pink patches.

The Yale Police Department (YPD) has a patrol car wrapped in pink making the rounds at various events. With Officer Greg Swiantek at the wheel, it was used as one of the pace vehicles for the 10th Annual Pounding the Pavement for Pink, a 5K race supporting Seymour Pink. Over 2,500 people ran in the race, raising money to fund breast cancer research, provide education, and empower and assist people living with breast cancer and their families. “The race winner was so fast he was almost able to touch the back of our patrol vehicle,” said Officer Swiantek.

In addition, several Yale Police and Security Officers include Officer Cody McGinnis helped fill the patrol car with over 200 tote bags. These bags included breast cancer awareness materials and were picked up from Smilow Cancer Hospital and then handed out on the New Haven Green.

Also, for the fourth year in a row, Yale Public Safety will again participate in the Pink Patch Project. A public awareness campaign, the Pink Patch Project is designed to bring attention to the fight against breast cancer and to support research organizations. Police departments nationwide participate in this yearly event, creating and wearing their patches, some even fundraising.Yale Security & Police Officers and several doctors from Smilow Cancer Hospital support Breast Cancer Awareness.

There were several partners in these events, including the Seymour, Milford, and Naugatuck Police Departments. Several service dogs attended the giveaway event, including YPD’s Heidi and Officer Richie Simons, and the service dogs from Southern Connecticut State University and Naugatuck Police Department. Lastly, several doctors at Smilow Cancer Hospital also helped: Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, Director, Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil, Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology), and Andrea Silber, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine (Medical Oncology).