Auburn Police, Recreation and Park District, supporting cancer awareness with patches

In addition to the fall season, October brings National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Two local agencies have created special patches to help strengthen public awareness. The Auburn Area Recreation and Park District has created a pink version of its original patch to support breast cancer awareness through its pink patch project. According to an ARD news release, the pink patch effort is being organized by the Friends of ARD nonprofit organization. "The pink patches are intended to stimulate conversation with the community and to encourage public awareness about the importance of prevention, early detection and the ongoing fight against this disease," the news release stated. Patches can be purchased at the Recreation Park customer service office, 123 Recreation Drive, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or via mail by sending a check to Friends of ARD at 471 Maidu Drive, Suite 200, Auburn, CA 95603. Patches are available for a $5 donation throughout October. To date, one-quarter of the inventory has been sold, according to Veona Galbraith, ARD administrative services manager. All donation profits will support the efforts of the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation. According to the release, an anonymous donor has offered to match all pink patch donations. The Auburn Police Department has also created a cancer awareness patch. It features the lavender ribbon for all cancer awareness with "Cops for a cure" written in the same color. The patch includes other awareness ribbons, including breast cancer, ovarian, lung, uterine, childhood and leukemia. "October is cancer awareness month, we want to bring awareness to all types of cancer with our new 2020 collector patch," APD said on its Facebook page. The APD patch is available throughout October at the police station, 1215 Lincoln Way, for a $10 donation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All donations raised by APD will support the Sutter Auburn Radiation Oncology Center.