White House goes pink for breast cancer awareness

The White House went pink tonight, part of worldwide campaign at more than 200 landmarks around the globe this month to commemorate breast cancer awareness.

During a ceremony at the White House, First Lady Laura Bush flipped a switch and suddenly a building that has been white ever since John and Abigail Adams took up residence there in 1800 was suddenly pink. She said:

We're showing our support of breast cancer awareness and research in a historic way. In recognition of the mothers, daughters, sisters and wives who struggle with this disease, we're lighting the White House in pink, which is the color of the cause. May our lights tonight shine as beacons around the world, a signal of the United States' commitment to saving lives for breast cancer.

Check it out:

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press

Comments

[Kylie]

I am a 29 yr-old bartender in upstate New York (being a bar owners daughter) and just saw the link of the white house being lit in pink for the month of October for breast cancer awareness month. I lost my mother due to this disease 16 years ago and she was ONLY 39 years old; way too young to die.Although come to find out she had been battling the disease for 5 continuous years as a strong, ill, and mothering person and loving wife. I never knew she was sick until her last 3 months of life. This woman was more concerned about raising her 3 children and being with her husband;whom she loved more than life itself. She was the type of person to not direct attention to herself, she hid it from us kids for as long as possible, and was the mother any kid would die for......BUT she lost her life to this horrible disease way too early in life. Moreso, I will never forget my mother as long as i shall live......YES good has come out of it with 2 awesome step-brothers and a caring step-mother in which i love very much so....but NOBODY can ever replace my mother. She will always hold a special place in my heart even though she was involved for my first 12 yrs of life.....Mom God bless. miss, and love you each and every day that has passed since then........

[Edie]

excellent - as a bc survivor, I actually do appreciate this gesture.

[Jean Collins]

Thank you for nationally recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here at Ridgeview High School in Orange Park, Florida, we have been recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness thiis week. Our faculty and several student organizations will be participating in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in our community on Saturday October 11. This week we have had several fund raising events. We held a "pink out" day on Monday with everyone wearing pink shirts. As a breast cancer survivor, this cause is very much in the forefront of my life. My mother has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and has just started her chemotherapy. Thank you again for turning the White House "pink".

[GAYLE TRUESDELL]

THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ALL THE BREAST CANCER PEOPLE
AS A CANCER PATIENT OF TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR SINCERE THANKS FOR LIGHTING UP THE WHITE HOUSE TO PINK. TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER HAS NO CURE WITH MEDICINE
BUT MAYBE SOMEDAY THAT WILL CHANGE.
THANK YOU AGAIN
GAYLE TRUESDELL

I fully support the efforts to increase awareness for breast cancer - but can anyone tell me what this cost the tax payers in this financial crisis?

[demgirl]

Lighting buildings pink is such a shallow and meaningless exploitation of the tragedy of breast cancer.

How about providing affordable health care coverage for all breast cancer survivors? That alone. would reduce the number of breast cancer deaths by a substantial number.

[Elizabeth Hawks]

I walked in the Susan G. Lomen 3 Day Walk for the Cure this past week-end in Washington,DC. for the first time, I was truely blessed by the people that supported our 60 hours of walking for the cure. 3000 Ladies and gentlemen walked and we had 300 volunteers, along with supporters along side of the roads and neighborhoods cheering us on. Thank you Laura Bush for lighting the White House in Pink for the cause. We all appreciate your support along with us. I guess some people complain about anything ,because it doesn't help them, but it might someday, because Cancer has NO warning.

I am ver happy to see more people are recognizing this. I wish that more people new that MEN TOO do get breast cancer. They are seldom if at all remembered in this month for the cancer. I do under stand that we are more likly to get this cancer but lets not forget the men too.

[Doogie]

"I fully support the efforts to increase awareness for breast cancer - but can anyone tell me what this cost the tax payers in this financial crisis?"

Didn't cost the taxpayers anything more than the normal utility costs to light the White House. The lights used everyday to illuminate the White House were simply covered with pink cellophane, which was donated to the National Park Service for this event.

[Nan]

How pretty is that?
Good cause for all our daughters, sisters, mothers, friends!
Thank you, Laura Bush!

[Melody Charen]

I am a 32yrd old woman who has been battleing for 7 yrs now and I would just like to say thankyou for recognizing us. People only think about this disease once a year but for us we live, breath, and struggle with breast cancer every single day so for us this is our life. The house looks beautiful.

Thanks again
Melody Charen
Mother, daughter and wife

[Linda A. Rogers]

Everyone is complaining about how much this is costing during this financial crisis. Did anyone think this might help people forget about their troubles and make things just a little brighter for awhile. Thanks to Laura Bush for her thoughtfulness for brightening up an otherwise bleak and awful time we are having. We need some happiness in our lives. Let's stop complaining and be happy for a change. The lights are on anyway.

My sister is currently undergoing chemo for he second round of breast cancer in 15 years, so she could use a little happiness. I for one, thank you, Laura Bush for brightening up the world.
Thank you again.

Nice move!

[Denise]

How does one go about petitioning for this, I would love to see it turned Blue Nov 14th for World Diabetes Day...

[Audrey]

That's really amazing. The Hard Rock Pinktober Campaign is coming to the Universal City Walk on Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. Should be a lot of fun with some great musicians performing to raise some money for breast cancer awareness.

[Dr. Patterson]

It very likely will save money in health care costs since some women will hear about this story and get a screening. Treatment for breast cancer is much, much less costly if it is caught early. This is not just something to make people feel good, but rather something that raises awareness and reminds women to go get a screening. My sister and another friend went through breast cancer and this reminded me that I have been putting off scheduling an appointment for a mammogram because I have been busy. I'm going to go do that now!

[Corinne Ouellette]

How about we don't light the White House at all after George W. Bush leaves so we can cellebrate his departure. Mammograms are his weapons of mass destruction since they cause breast cancer.