LETTER: Why I Wear Pink in My Hair

To the lady that I apparently offended today in Trader Joe's by sporting my Pink hair extensions and my Blue S.T. wristband ... not that I owe YOU any explanation why I wear these things when I don't have cancer (and your insensitive comments to me to that effect just shows your ignorance) ... but since you asked oh so snarkily:

I wear it for the older sister of a friend with young children who didn't have a say as to whether or not she got it ...
I wear it for the teenaged son of other friends whose heart breaks daily at the pain of watching him go through treatment ...
I wear it for my best friend's husband who has selflessly given his time over the years to form respectable young men through coaching and is in remission ...
I wear it for my NaNa who had the double mastectomy but died anyway ...
I wear it in support for the countless families who have been touched by this terrible disease and have had to endure the loss of loved ones and who may not have anyone to stand up for them or support them in their time of need ...
I wear it to remind others that they too can make a difference by donating their time and resources even if it's only a little ...
I wear it to raise others awareness and to remind them to get regular check ups ...
And mostly I wear it to remind ME to be thankful EVERY DAY that I wake up healthy and strong and cancer free.

And yes insensitive TJ's lady ... I would even wear it for YOU if you were affected by this ... In the meantime, I suggest you go search within yourself and find some compassion ... and oh yeah ... Hey Cancer, EFF YOU!!

—Lori Marshall, Campbell Resident