Delta Air Lines’ takes off today for its ninth annual The Breast Cancer Research Foundation survivor flight aboard “Breast Cancer One” to raise awareness and money to battle the deadly disease.
Delta’s Pink Plane, a Boeing 767-400, will fly between Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport with more than 140 employee cancer survivors from locations around the world for its annual October flight.
For 20 years, Delta has stood strong in the fight against breast cancer searching for prevention and to find a cure for the disease.
“Twenty years ago Evelyn Lauder created the iconic Pink Ribbon to raise international awareness of breast cancer, and in those years BCRF has helped save lives and improve the quality of care for tens of thousands of breast cancer patients,” says Joanne Smith, Delta’s senior vice president – In-Flight Service. “We are so proud that Delta, with our employees, customers and families, has been a significant sponsor for nearly half of the foundation’s history, and that our ‘Pink Plane’ has helped spread BCRF’s message worldwide.”
In addition to the pink plane, throughout October Delta’s administrative building at its general offices in Atlanta will be illuminated in pink lighting in support of BCRF. To further raise awareness and support for breast cancer research, Delta employees will wear pink uniforms and sell pink products on board and in Delta Sky Clubs, including pink lemonade and pink headsets. All proceeds benefit BCRF.
Since 2005, Delta’s employees, customers and their friends and families have raised $6.7 million for the foundation, with more than $1.75 million raised last year alone. Delta’s contributions have funded the vital work of 18 different research projects over the years in the pursuit of eradicating breast cancer.
Delta’s “Pink Plane”
Delta’s international “pink plane,” a Boeing 767-400 featuring BCRF’s trademarked pink ribbon logo on the tail of the aircraft and adjacent to the boarding door, has carried nearly 395,000 customers and flown more than 15,500 hours – or approximately 1,900 trips around the world – since being painted pink in May 2010. The aircraft flies international routes and will raise awareness for BCRF in London, Milan, Rio De Janiero, Sao Paulo and the United States this year. Delta’s first pink plane was a Boeing 757 that between 2005 and 2010 flew throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean to generate awareness for the cause.
Last year, Delta dedicated the aircraft to the memory of Ms. Lauder in a ceremony in New York attended by her husband, Leonard Lauder, BCRF Acting Chairman and Chairman Emeritus of The Estee Lauder Companies, as well as BCRF staff.
