Community Involvement

Spreading awareness with pink shoelaces

About the photo: Employees show off their pink shoelaces to support breast cancer. From left are Richard Rodriguez, mechanical foreman; and carmen Martin Quijada, Eliseo Renteria, Cid Narro, and Art Perez.

Commerce, Calif., Carman Eliseo Renteria wanted to find a way to recognize his sister-in-law, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Knowing that there were safety concerns associated with the pink ribbon pins often worn to support cancer awareness, he came up with a different idea.

"I decided to wear pink shoelaces and talked with Kenny Campbell, who also wanted to be involved," he says.

Campbell, safety assistant, thought it was a good idea and decided to participate to recognize his aunt, who underwent a double mastectomy last year.

After other employees heard about their plans, many told their own stories and decided to participate, including eight carmen, Gustavo Gutierrez, Max Jimenez, Cid Narro, Art Perez, Martin Quijada, Matthew Reynolds, Luis Rios, and Ricardo Zapata, and Richard Rodriguez, mechanical foreman.

The pink shoelaces became conversation starters and brought awareness to cancer research and treatment. As word spread, Transportation employees also wanted to participate.

"Hopefully, we'll get others to communicate about how all kinds of cancer affects each and every one of us in one way or another," says Renteria.