Local P.O. going "pink"

Dexter Postmaster Patrick Powell and employees of the local post office are doing their part to recognize breast cancer survivors and to help raise funds for further research to find a breast cancer cure.

In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the local post office is working to make customers aware of a special stamp that is available throughout the year that benefits breast cancer research. The stamps cost a few pennies more than the standard stamp, but the same price as the popular Forever stamps.

A sheet of the Breast Cancer Awareness stamps cost $12, according to Powell, but for every sheet sold, $2.20 goes to fund breast cancer research.

The stamps have been available for several years, but Powell says although there are many customers who will purchase only the special stamps, he feels there are many folks who were not aware they existed.

"We thought that Breast Cancer Awareness Month was the perfect time to illustrate their significance when it comes to raising funds for cancer research.

"It's our goal to reach $10,000 in Breast Cancer Awareness stamp sales in October," explains Powell.

As an added incentive, with each sheet of the special stamps purchased in October, the purchaser's name will be entered into a drawing for one of three gift baskets that are on display at the post office. The drawing will take place on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. at the post office.

By way of history, the Breast Cancer Research stamp, as it is referred to at the post office, was issued on July 29, 1998 at a ceremony at the White House. To date, the stamp has raised over $70 million for cancer research.

In 1960, Powell noted, one in every 20 women was diagnosed with breast cancer. That figure is now one in every eight. Every three minutes, studies indicate, a female is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.