D12 | L!fe | Sunday, October 30, 2011 | Dayton Daily News | Complete. In-Depth. Dependable.
MORAINE — Employees at CompuNet Clinical Laboratories have found a meaningful way to focus on breast cancer awareness and at the same time beautify their main office facility.
During the month of October, each of the company’s 600 employees was given a pink tulip bulb to plant on the grounds of the building. The company’s “Plant a Pink Tulip” event kicked off on Monday morning, October 17.
“Each employee was also given a biodegradable pink paper note to plant along with the tulip, honoring the memory of loved ones we’ve lost, those we are supporting, and those who have won the battle against cancer,” explained Kim Stanforth, director of marketing and communications. Stanforth dedicated her own tulip to her aunt and uncle.
“My aunt is a 10-year breast cancer survivor after having successfully fought a painfully long and difficult battle,” she explained. “My uncle, an individual who I always felt was invincible while growing up, succumbed to lung cancer several years ago.”
CompuNet, she said, performs thousands of cancer screening and cancer diagnostic tests each year.
Mark Shearer, chemistry director for the 25-year-old company, says cancer awareness is close to his heart because he lost both of his parents to the disease. “I know this time of year there is an emphasis on breast cancer but we must not lose sight of the many other cancers out there,” he said. “In fact, of all the folks I know who have been touched by cancer no two have had the same cancer.”
Schearer, who said he has bosses, employees and co-workers who are cancer survivors, planted his tulip to honor a friend and co-worker who is just beginning her battle with cancer.
“As I was digging holes so that other could plant some bulbs, it became obvious that many of us were planting them on her behalf,” he said.
He said it’s well recognized that treating a cancer early is important.
“This year, we need to make the issue of cancer awareness not only about the need for research to fight it, but also to stress the importance of screening for cancers,” he says.
The idea for the “Plant a Pink Tulip” came from Carolyn Thaman, a CompuNet vice president who said two employee teams — one that plans company events, the other that promotes wellness — combined to work on the project.
“We ended up calling it ‘Celebrating Life Over Cancer,’” Thamas says. “It definitely hits every one of us in some way.”
Julie Danna, payroll coordinator, almost broke into tears while walking with 30 others from her company at the recent Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event.
“Honestly, I never liked the color pink before, but I will go back next year and gather even more people,” she said. Danna, who planted her tulip for a number of family members and friends, said she is looking forward to seeing all of the pink blooms next Spring.
“Each tulip will represent lives touched by breast cancer but also hope and beauty,” she says. “One amazing fact that tulips and hope have in common is that they both propagate if given time and patience. I’m looking forward to seeing them multiply over the years.”
The CompuNet facility, which can be seen from Interstate 75, is located on Sandridge Drive, off of Springboro Pike, north of Dorothy Lane.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss @DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author
