Pink is back in season on the Northshore, but St. Tammany Health Foundation’s message Monday morning (Sept. 28) was of the evergreen variety: Get screened.
Alongside a bevy of community partners, cancer patients, survivors and healthcare providers, the foundation launched its 2026 breast cancer awareness campaign – formally St. Tammany United in Breast Health: The Power of Pink – kicking off a monthlong effort promoting breast cancer awareness, screenings and fundraising.
The campaign is timed to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which occurs every October.
A highlight of the launch event was the unveiling of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office’s pink-wrapped campaign vehicle, which sports extra sparkle this year with glittery dark-pink accents. Throughout October, residents can sign the vehicle for $5, with proceeds benefiting local cancer care.
St. Tammany Health System’s Be Well Bus and Breathe Well Connection mobile screening units also were on-site offering screenings. Both will visit festivals, fairs and other community gatherings throughout October, bringing health screenings directly into Northshore communities.
“October gives us an opportunity to rally together as a community, but our commitment to education, breast cancer screening and early detection continues year-round,” the foundation’s Kathleen Thomas said. “Routine screenings remain one of our most powerful tools because early detection saves lives.”
That message also inspired this year’s campaign T-shirt, designed by The Pink Ladies, an advocacy group made up of local cancer survivors and care providers. The design features a butterfly alighting on a pink ribbon, symbolizing the strength, resilience and transformation of the cancer journey.
The campaign is supported by presenting sponsor Timeless Touch Medical Aesthetics and Partner in Prevention sponsor Ambetter Health, along with a growing roster of local Pink Partners, a raft of local businesses offering special products, events and promotions to benefit the campaign – and to remind local women of the importance of getting their annual mammogram.
“The numbers don’t lie: Routine screenings are the absolute best defense we have,” Thomas said, adding: “Early detection saves lives.”
Scroll down for more photos, and visit STHFoundation.org for an undated listing of Pink Partner events and information on how you can become a Pink Partner.