To kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones joined over 50 breast cancer survivors and officials from Charlotte Motor Speedway and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in painting the famed race track’s pit wall pink on October 1. Our dedicated staff from Paragon Surgical Specialists rolled out the pink once again to support the event. Paragon surgeon Crystal Yi, MD, also a cancer survivor, was interviewed by the foundation and PBS for public service announcements to be used throughout the month.
Now in its 12th year, Paint Pit Wall Pink has become an annual event to celebrate survivors, provide hope for those battling breast cancer, and raise awareness of the importance of early detection. Last year, NASCAR Cup driver Kurt Busch passed the torch to fellow Cup driver Erik Jones and his foundation. The Mission of the Erik Jones Foundation has three pillars: Change Lives by Igniting Children’s Passion for Reading, Encouraging Early Cancer Detection and Care, and Promoting Animal Welfare. Erik and his foundation also sponsor events during Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month in May each year, with special attention on the Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Erik lost his father to melanoma in 2016, and his mother is twice a breast cancer survivor. So, raising awareness of cancer and the importance of early detection is very personal to him. The foundation’s cancer efforts focus on impacting the preventable forms of the disease.
The 12th annual Paint Pit Wall Pink event is a prelude to the Oct. 12 running of the Xfinity Series’ Drive for the Cure 250. Read more about the event on the Charlotte Motor Speedway website. The annual tradition is part of the “Window of Hope” fundraiser, which includes pink racecar nets that will be used, autographed, and auctioned after the roval race.
View the original post on the Paragon Surgical Specialists website.
