By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Peggy Wettengal knows all about the power of pink – and about breast cancer.
Diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in March of 2009, Wettengal went through four rounds of chemo and 33 radiation treatments before she was cancer free.
Through it all, the training lead in customer care at Runzheimer International had the support of her co-workers around her.
“Eight of the 10 people on my team showed up when I got my hair cut,” said Wettengal, referring to the cut she got when she started losing her hair as a result of chemotherapy.
“For my five-year, I came in and I couldn’t understand why there were pink balloons all over,” she added, referring to last year’s celebration of being five years cancer-free. “I have a fabulous team.”
If there was any doubt about that, it was squelched Oct. 28, as about 100 of Runzheimer’s 200 employees took the challenge of who could dress in the most pink in support of breast cancer.
The effort went hand-in-hand with fundraising, which ended up with more than $1,000 donated to breast cancer research by employees.
The winner of the contest, as it turned out, was Wettengal, who wore a pink party hat, huge pink sunglasses, hair sprayed pink, two pink breast cancer ornaments for earrings, a pink blouse covered by a pink nightie, pink scrubs, socks, slippers, gloves and, of course, pink ribbons.
Runzheimer President Randy Mueller said he challenged his employees to “out-pink him.”
“The vast majority of our employees did,” Mueller said. “I think we had 50 people with legitimately all-pink costumes on. People were just really excited about it.”
It was an easy bandwagon for Wettengal to jump on, “because it was a great cause.”
“I love a little competition,” she added. “I wasn’t going to let Randy or anyone else out-pink me.”
There was competition, though. Mueller and Wettengal said that 10 different finalists were named of those all in pink – which included one male employee in a pink tutu, a woman in a pink bunny suit and a veritable collection of pink clothing and wigs.
In the end, Wettengal walked off with two days paid vacation as the winner, while everyone who participated got one paid day off.
Wettengal said the support for the cause was terrific – and close to both her heart and Mueller’s. Three of her sisters have been diagnosed with breast cancer – “the luck of the draw,” she explained, as there is not a hereditary trait in the family.
Mueller’s mother and sister have also battled the disease, and his best friend died after a battle with it in April.
“I’ve gotten to see what these people go through, and the courage it takes to go through it,” Mueller said.
Added Wettengal, “Everyone knows somebody that has had breast cancer – or any kind of cancer.”
“I’ve been here 13 years, and I’ve always admired Runzheimer’s support, no matter what it is,” Wettengal said. “We help with the Waterford band uniforms, and we help with Love Inc.
“I think that day just proved it, even more,” she added. “It’s a fun way to get camaraderie. It absolutely has meaning, and it goes to a well-deserving organization.”
-
-
-
-
-