FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Airlines and its more than 100,000 employees tomorrow will launch
Be Pink, the employee-led breast cancer awareness initiative that
takes place each October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Raising awareness about breast cancer and helping raise money to
finance breast cancer research through Susan G. Komen® is a
critical mission for team members since breast cancer accounts for
one in nearly one in three cancers diagnosed in the U.S.
All month, American's customers will have the opportunity to
join employees' efforts to promote awareness and action against
breast cancer. Customers who make a minimum $25 donation to American's Miles for the
Cure® program will earn 20 AAdvantage® miles,
instead of 10, for each dollar contributed. Donations can be made
at aa.com/bepink.
Customers can also expect to experience Be Pink during their
journey. They will see many of American's employees wearing Be Pink
accessories – ties, socks, scarves – as part of their uniform as
one of the many employee fundraisers. They can also select special
Be Pink-branded items, including lemonade served onboard aircraft
and Be Pink menu items served in select Admirals Club lounges.
This fall will mark the 21st year that American has
presented the American Airlines Celebrity Golf and Tennis Weekend.
The event will be held later this month and has raised more than
$11.5 million for Komen since its
inception in 1995.
American has supported the fight against breast cancer for more
than 30 years and is the Official Airline of Susan G. Komen. In 2014, American raised more
than $1 million to support the cause
through the generosity of employees, customers and corporate
contributions. Customers can visit aa.com/bepink to learn more
about joining the company's efforts to create a world without
breast cancer.
Suzanne George's story
American's involvement in the fight against breast cancer is
especially meaningful this year to employee Suzanne George, a 26-year reservations
agent.
Last spring, doctors diagnosed George's daughter Sarah, 27, with
one of the most aggressive and least-researched forms of the
disease – inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). It had already spread
to her liver and bones by the time it had been discovered.
George and her daughter sought help at the world's only research
center that specializes in IBC – the Morgan Welch Inflammatory
Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston, which was founded in part
with grant money from American through Susan G. Komen.
"The very clinic that had oversight of our daughter's treatment
was supported by this Komen grant, so American's charitable support
of Komen had a direct bearing on Sarah's care," George said.
In August, less than one year after starting chemotherapy
treatment at the clinic, Sarah had an x-ray that showed her tumors
no longer showed a significant cancer presence. While her mother
knows Sarah's fight is not over, she is encouraged by this small
victory.
"During all the past years participating in Be Pink, I never
could have imagined that my daughter's very survival could rest on
cutting-edge breast cancer research supported by my American
family," George said. "I am humbly and sincerely grateful for
American and Komen's support for the IBC clinic."
About Susan G. Komen®
Susan G. Komen is the world's
largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer
research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to
those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has
funded more than $889 million in
research and provided $1.95 billion
in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial
support programs serving millions of people in more than 30
countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister,
Susan G. Komen, that she would end
the disease that claimed Suzy's life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877
GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social
at ww5.komen.org/social.
About American Airlines
American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for
American Airlines and US Airways. Together with regional partners,
operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines
operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350
destinations in more than 50 countries. American is a founding
member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and
members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily
flights to 150 countries. This year American topped Fortune
Magazine's list of best business turnarounds and its stock was
added to the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter
@AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
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SOURCE American Airlines