Red Towboats Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

SPRINGFIELD, Va., Oct. 7, 2024 - Breast cancer strikes 1 of every 8 women - including those that work and recreate on the water. In an effort to bring the message of breast cancer awareness to boaters and their local communities in hopes of saving lives, five local TowBoatUS companies from Virginia to Florida have partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to raise funds for October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"We wanted to bring our message of awareness and support to the water, where our TowBoatUS families work and help boaters every day," said BoatUS vice president of public affairs Scott Croft. "The five TowBoatUS companies participating in our third annual breast cancer awareness campaign understand what it's like to have loved ones stricken with this horrible disease. They've set high fundraising goals and will be doing it in creative ways that will have impact and reach everyone on the water."

The five locally owned and operated companies include TowBoatUS Reedville, Virginia; TowBoatUS Lake Norman, North Carolina; TowBoatUS Charleston, South Carolina; TowBoatUS Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee and TowBoatUS Charlotte Harbor, Florida.

The companies each have a pink TowBoatUS response vessel on the water during October, with large QR codes printed on the hull sides to make it easy for boaters to donate directly to NBCF. TowBoatUS companies are also partnering with local businesses, fishing tournaments, marinas, restaurants and resorts to raise funds that will go directly to NCBF.

This includes special events such as:

• Virginia: An Oyster Roast and Corn Hole Tournament in Reedville.
• Tennessee: Fundraising at the Bill Dance Giant Bass Open tournament, Rockwood RV Marina and Resort on Lake Chickamauga and at the Chattanooga Bass Association Classic as well as a fall-color cruise with Erwin Marine on the Tennessee River.
• Florida: Fundraising at the Flats Master Championship and Captiva Invitational tournaments and "Hooked Up for a Cause" contest and pink Yeti bucket drive in Charlotte Harbor.
• North Carolina: Fundraising with local business partners including Freedom Boat Club, and a Pink Out Campaign at West Marine on Lake Norman.
• South Carolina: Waters Edge and Sea Breeze marinas fundraising drive and Igloo Cooler auction in Charleston.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this year an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. However, if caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 99%. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly increased breast cancer survival rates in recent years, and there are currently over 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The National Breast Cancer Foundation offers early detection tips including monthly breast self-exams and how to schedule a mammogram.

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Suggested social media post:

Local TowBoatUS companies are partnering with National Breast Cancer Foundation (@NBCF) to raise funds in October to fight disease that affects 1 of every 8 women https://bit.ly/3U0lfDP #towboatus #boatus #breastcancerawareness #breastcancer #nationalbreastcancerfoundation #redisready #towboatusreedville #towboatuslakenorman #towboatuscharleston #towboatuschickamaugalake #towboatuscharlotteharbor #pinktowboat

About TowBoatUS:

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters. We are the Boat Owners Auto Club™ and provide our more than 725,000 members with a wide array of helpful services, including 24-hour on-water towing that gets you safely home when your boat won't, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings. The TowBoatUS towing fleet is North America's largest network of towing ports with more than 300 locations and over 600 red towboats, responding to more than 110,000 requests for assistance each year. The BoatUS App makes it easy to summon water and road assistance 24/7 and can speed response times (BoatUS.com/App). For more information go to BoatUS.com/Towing.