WorldWide Drilling Resource

18 MARCH 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® More than a Bit of Pink Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® About one in eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer dur- ing their lifetimes. As of 2014, over 2.8 million women had a history of breast cancer in the U.S. In the spring of 2012, I lost one of my close friends who was only 36 years old to the disease. For her, the color pink was empowering. She wore it proudly, and it symbolized the fight for her life. When October rolls around each year with its wash of pink ribbons, I am re- minded of my courageous friend. Of course I noticed Baker Hughes’ pink bit campaign the last two years. The company has a long history pro- moting breast cancer awareness. Baker Hughes employees were active partici- pants in the Komen Houston Race for the Cure, and sponsored the event’s Survivor Pin celebration since 2006. When one of the company’s cus- tomers requested a custom pink drill bit - not related to breast cancer - employ- ees liked it so much, they pitched the idea to use it as a tool for breast cancer awareness. In October 2013, Baker Hughes started the “Doing Our Bit for the Cure” campaign, which included a $100,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen ® organ- ization. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company also painted 500 drill bits pink in an effort to promote early detection and treatment of the disease. Jobsites across the globe were affected by the gesture. A Canada- based drilling crew invited breast can- cer survivor Melody Blanchette - wife of Baker Hughes Bit Supervisor Ron Blanchette - to their jobsite before send- ing the pink bit down the hole. Ron said he felt Baker Hughes showed it was more than a company, it was also a fam- ily trying to do its part. In 2014, Baker Hughes distributed 1000 pink bits in support of breast can- cer research, treatment, screening, and education worldwide. The company also contributed another $100,000 to support Susan G. Komen, whose investments have helped reduce breast cancer mor- tality rates by 33% since 1991. For the second year in a row, pink bits were welcomed on international job- sites with open arms. Cabot Gas and Oil Corporation even made sure its crew was outfitted with pink shirts, gloves, and hard hats when their pink bit was sent down the hole. Bits arrived to drill sites in pink- topped containers, along with informa- tion about breast health including cancer risk factors and s c r een i ng t ips. “Our hope is...someone gets this information to their spouses, their girl- friends, their daughters so we can create awareness and end this disease forever,” said Bill Debo, director of operations for U.S. land drill bits at Baker Hughes. The campaign is personal for Debo, who lost hismother tobreast cancer in1976. In the end, it wasn’t about the bit or its lovely shade of pink. Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing since 1989, especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and in- creased awareness. Hopefully, the pur- pose behind the bi t of pink wi l l be remembered and revived again in 2015. Photo courtesy of Cabot Gas & Oil