By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

The motto of the Kent County Sheriffs Office’s just-started Pink Patch breast cancer awareness effort has a simple, stated goal: “Supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors, honoring the taken and never giving up hope.”

The program offers pink Sheriffs Office patches for a $10 donation with the proceeds going to Gilda’s Club and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office Benevolent Fund.

“We have sold 150 patches in the last 2 weeks which has raised $1,500,” Sgt. Joel Roon, Kent County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said last week to WKTV. “The reception from the community has been amazing. Our clerks have heard many inspiring stories of people who were motivated to buy a patch because of a personal story.”

And thanks to the program being registered with the national Pink Patch Project, the local effort is event getting out-of-the-county requests.

“We have even received a few out-of-state requests which we’ve obviously accommodated,” Sgt. Roon said. “Local interest with officers from other agencies has also been evident and very exciting.”

The goal of the Sheriff’s Office program is to “raise awareness about the importance of screening and early detection.”

According to a flyer distributed by the Sheriffs Office about the program, here are a few sobering yet hopeful facts: One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime … Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, but there are 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the country.”

Patches are available for purchase at the Kent County Sheriff’s Office at 701 Ball Ave. NE, and two substations: the North Sector office at 790 17 Mile Road NW and the South Sector office at 8557 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

For questions about the patches, contact deputies Mandy Bernal-Hill at 616-632-6228, Joy Matthews at 616-632-6224 or Jordan Peters at 810-223-1732.