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March 28, 2013
Manitou Group Supports Cause
by Ashley Kringen, Reporter, courtesy KDLT News
Link directly to the story and video
The piece of machinery is raising awareness for breast cancer, a cause that reaches people all over the world.
“She said Grandma and Grandpa; I want a pink skid steer for myself," said Kolsrud.
Mary Kolsrud, the executive director for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure in South Dakota, said three-year-old Haidyn Watson from Columbia Cross Roads, PA made a wish that is now joining a movement to save lives and end breast cancer forever.
The little girl's Grandparents contacted Gehl, an equipment manufacturing company in Madison and pitched the idea for a personalized skid loader, with a dual purpose.
"They thought well in this typically man focused area of farming, why can't we step up and why can't the farmers do something and give back," said Kolsrud.
"Never seen a pink one," said Williams.
Dustin Williams, Plant Manager at Gehl said the company does nearly 40, custom paint jobs each year, but this one stands out from the rest.
"It's a useful tool and if you can do something to show support for your wife, your mother, or anyone else that has breast cancer," said Williams.
Pretty soon this pink skid loader will be put on a flatbed truck, traveling down the I-90 while turning heads and raising awareness for a good cause.
From NFL players on the field sporting pink helmets to colorful farm machinery, a domino effect of supporters for breast cancer is happening all over the world.
"When Komen started 30 years ago, it was taboo to talk about breast cancer, women didn't want to share if they had the disease, were embarrassed to get mammograms, now look how far we've come," said Kolsrud.
Even attracting the mind of a three-year-old, whose dream began with a color and ended with a statement.
The pink skid loader will hit the road on Friday to head to Pennsylvania, which is more than 1,000 miles away.
In the past five years, the South Dakota Affiliate collectively granted $980,000.00 to support non-duplicative breast health, along with breast cancer outreach projects in communities throughout the state.