Giving Back

Step One Automotive unveils pink Jeep Cherokee for their breast cancer awareness campaign

The signature drive runs Oct. 1-31. Last year Step One presented nearly $15,000 to local charities through the campaign.

Jared Williams

Step One Automotive Group gave a preview on Wednesday of its third annual “Drive Out Breast Cancer” awareness campaign with the unveiling of a pink Jeep Cherokee L.

The campaign officially kicks off on Saturday, October 1 and runs through the end of the month, and encourages community members to sign the vehicle throughout October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The bright pink SUV, adorned with breast cancer ribbons, will make stops at local events to collect signatures. Step One will donate $1 for each autograph to cancer charities, up to caps of $2,500 in central Alabama, $5,000 in Georgia and $7,500 in Florida and Andalusia.

“Prevention is our number one goal,” said Maureen Bierman, Step One’s marketing director, at the Fort Walton Beach sneak peek attended by local officials and healthcare workers.

“I want to hear from all the ladies here in the room. Who has had a mammogram in the last 12 months?” she asked, encouraging screening to detect cancer early when most treatable.

Bierman told the crowd that their second goal is to encourage people to support breast cancer research, to help raise money, and to find a cure for cancer, once and for all.

“And the third reason, of course, is to support the organizations here on the ground that are doing the work to help people through cancer, to help them get out to the other side better and healthier,” she added.

Proceeds will support local groups assisting with research, screenings, treatment and recovery. Among the beneficiaries are St. Joseph Candler Telfair Mammography Fund in Georgia, Pink Topps in central Alabama and Ascension Sacred Heart foundations along the Florida panhandle and in Andalusia.

“I want to thank everyone at Step One Automotive for partnering with us for prevention,” said Roxanne Thomas of Ascension Sacred Heart, which has invested in 3D mammography technology to diagnose cancers sooner.

With the help of the First Lady of Fort Walton Beach, Janey Rynearson, the pink Jeep Cherokee L was officially unveiled and members of the audience began signing the vehicle.

The signature drive runs Oct. 1-31. Last year Step One presented nearly $15,000 to local charities through the campaign. It hopes to top that figure this October during the drive set to begin on Saturday.