NAGS HEAD, N.C.—Ferry crew members from Hatteras and Ocracoke Island recently joined together to show their support for women facing breast cancer and those that are survivors as part of a challenge to local gentlemen to wear pink on Fridays in October as part of national breast cancer awareness month. The challenge was put on by The Outer Banks Hospital’s Cancer Resource Center, which is dedicated to helping patients and their families better understand their diagnosis and treatment and cope with the disease.“We wanted to participate in the hospital’s ‘Real Men Wear Pink’ challenge and send a visual message to encourage women to schedule their yearly mammograms since cancer is the leading cause of death in Dare County and breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women,” said Charlie Fearing, Division I Superintendent. “Since our employees wear uniforms, we decided show our support for the campaign by pinning pink ribbons to our ferry uniforms,” added Fearing.According to the National Cancer Institute, women age 40 and older are encouraged to have a mammogram every one to two years. Women that are at a higher than average risk of breast cancer should talk with their health care provider before the age of 40 to determine how often they should have a mammogram performed.

About the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry Route

The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route, as well as the state’s other six routes, operate 365 days a year and is state’s busiest, carrying more than 950,000 passengers each year. During the month of September 2009, the route carried 104,000 people and 41,477 vehicles.

About the Cancer Resource Center

The Outer Banks Hospital’s Cancer Resource Center is dedicated to helping patients with cancer better understand their diagnosis and treatment and cope with the disease. The Center, which was created with funds generated by The Outer Banks Hospital Development Council, offers a variety of services to help people dealing with cancer. This includes education, counseling, and helping patients connect with others sharing the same experience. All services of the Cancer Resource Center are provided at no cost. The Center is located on the second floor of the Medical Office Building adjacent to The Outer Banks Hospital and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and by appointment. For more information, please call 252.449.7350, or email [email protected]

Photo note: Front row, from left: D. Styron, R.L. Meekins, A.N. Roy, J.T. Gray, Jr., and B.A. Gurganus.Center row, from lef: A.R. Meekins Jr., M. Gray and A. Farkas. Back row, from left: K.S. Gray, A.M. Brody, H.C. Scarborough and H.N. Salter.

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