Kershaw, S.C. – An enthusiastic crowd gathered at OceanaGold’s Haile Gold Mine to witness the “reveal” of what might be the biggest mobile health care reminder “birthed” in South Carolina. Two, 200-ton haul trucks, one painted pink for breast cancer awareness and the other painted blue for mental health awareness, formally rolled into service at the modern gold mine outside of Kershaw, S.C.
“We want to increase awareness about the devastating health challenges of breast cancer and mental health disorders,” said David Thomas, Vice President and Country Director of OceanaGold. “Many of our Haile team member’s families have been impacted by both breast cancer and mental illness. We want to show our support for early detection and proactive care.”
At more than 22 feet tall, the Komatsu 730 the haul trucks are a bold, brightly painted visual reminder of the alarming statistics regarding breast cancer and mental health disorders.
- In 2020, an estimated 325,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. This includes a significant amount of men. The pink haul truck pays tribute to those patients.
- According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults will experience mental illness. 17% of youth (6-17 years) will be diagnosed as well. The blue haul truck pays tribute to those patients.
“The trucks will drive throughout our Haile site hauling rock between our mining pits and the process plant,” said Jim Whittaker, Executive General Manager of the Haile Gold Mine. “Every time they pass someone on our site, we hope they remember early detection for both mental health disorders and cancer is a key to healing, and as a reminder to actively support those we know facing these challenges.”
Supporting Haile in this colorful display of awareness are Linder Industrial Machinery, the American Cancer Society and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health.
If you are struggling, you are not alone! For the National Alliance of Mental Illness help line, call 800-950-NAMI (6264). For more information from the American Cancer Society, call the cancer help line at 800-227-2345.
