'Pink Ride' Raises Dollars for Cancer

It's not everyday that you'll see two pink taxi cabs parked at a city hall but that's exactly what the pink cardigan-clad Kathy Pasillas and others saw at the Pink Ride press conference in late October.

In an effort to raise funds for breast cancer, South Bay Yellow Cab painted two taxi cabs pink, donated a dollar for every ride taken in the pink cabs, and placed signs with the “Pink Ride” message atop 50 taxi cabs last month, raising $10,500 during National Breast Cancer Awareness.

The company also donated $1,500 in taxi vouchers to the American Cancer Society to provide free transportation for cancer patients' medical needs and is participating in ACS' ongoing Text-to-Give campaign. To donate directly to ACS, text PINK to 41518.

Pasillas, a two-time breast cancer survivor and ACS volunteer, was on hand at the press conference to accept the $10,500 check.

“The program is just so important because it raises awareness,” Pasillas said. “And to me, as a survivor, awareness is extremely important because it makes people stop and think. It makes people go to the doctor or send family members to the doctor.

"If you catch cancer early, the chances of surviving are so much higher," she said. "That’s really what it’s all about, is having more survivors."

As part of the first-ever international “Pink Ride” effort spearheaded by the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association, a global association of for-hire vehicle fleet owners, SB Yellow Cab paid to have the two taxi cabs painted pink, securing approval to do so from MB, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, cities in which SB Yellow Cab operates.

City officials from each of the four cities involved with the month-long awareness movement attended the event.

“When you think about this day and age, for a company to be that forward-thinking, it’s pretty amazing,” said Stephanie Martin of the Manhattan Beach Police Department. “To paint cars, that’s quite an expense. But look at all the money they raised. That’s pretty incredible.”

Martin gave a short speech, mentioning the effects cancer has had on the Manhattan Beach community the past several years.

Since 2009, three MBPD officers have died from the disease.

“We’ve been going through this phase for well over three years, from their diagnoses to their treatment to fundraising in the community,” Martin said. “We had a huge outpouring of support. And unfortunately, they lost their battles. So as a small department and small community, it was an incredibly tough process.”

In 2009, Gary Dusyn, a member of the force for more 20 years, died from lung cancer. In October of last year, officer Jeff Goodrich died from brain cancer, and in May of this year, officer Mark Vasquez died from aggressive multiple myeloma.

Pasillas, who has battled breast cancer on two occasions, said that support from the community is what has the greatest impact on those suffering from the disease.

“It’s so heart-warming,” Pasillas said of the efforts in the South Bay. “It really shows that people care out there and they’re willing to do something. These cab companies, they’re willing to give up some of their profit and give back to the community. Every little bit matters.

“When people show that they actually care, that raises the spirits of the people actually going through it," said Pasillas. "That support system is all part of it.”