VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Some color is being added to the uniforms of deputies at the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) will be wearing new pink gear all of October to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and honor staff who have fought against it. Sworn staff will be sporting pink Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Offices badges and patches on their uniforms, while unauthorized staff will be given pink ribbon pins to wear in solidarity of the movement. The aim of the items is to support breast cancer survivors and raise awareness to the impact breast cancer has on millions around the world.
News 3's Danielle Saitta talked to two employees about personal connections they have to breast cancer.
Sergeant Mindy Lemieszek said her Aunt Angela Davis endured breast cancer not once, but three times, and fought a really hard fight. But in 2017, Davis, a mother of four, lost her battle. But Lemiesec said another tragedy followed.
"My two younger cousins were middle school age and they went to live with a family friend because my uncle passed away within a couple of months of her passing," Lemieszek said.
In Virginia, the American Cancer Society reported 7,600 cases of breast cancer that have been diagnosed this year. Of that number, 1,150 patients have died.
Deputy Rosales says she's fearful of being a statistic.
"I, myself, I'm 30 years old," she said. "I've started getting mammograms just to be on top of it because I don't want to be another number for the CDC."
She said she doesn't have a choice but to be diligent. Her mom's early diagnosis in 2019 uncovered a few more family secrets.
"It was like a snowball effect from there," she said. "It was her diagnosis, then her sister, then her aunt...their grandmother."
Fortunately, Rosales says her mother beat breast cancer and so did the other female members of her family.
"That's why I stress, 'people go get your mammograms early,' because if she had not caught it, it could have developed into something much worse," she said. "I'm just hopeful that one day there will be a cure because I don't want to lose a family member like we did. It's painful."
Lemieszek and Rosales said the best defense is an annual trip to the doctor.
News 3 is staying informed on other local Breast Cancer Awareness programs throughout Hampton Roads for the month of October.
For more information on programs from the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, follow their Facebook page.
