Thousands of runners will be sporting pink this Sunday in support of breast cancer research for the 22nd annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.
An Ottawa heating company has taken the "pink campaign" to a whole new level; the basement level in fact .
Like a lot of homeowners, Mitch and Chris Desrochers are forking out a few thousand for a new furnace after theirs conked out. But this installation is different.
“You’re here for our pink furnace?” Chris Desrochers asks as she opens the front door.
“Yes, I’m Matt from Ottawa Home Services.”
The Desrochers heard about a unique campaign to heat their home while helping people with cancer. It's a cause dear to their hearts. Chris works as an occupational therapist with cancer patients.
"So I see firsthand how cancer can impact your life.”
Her father died of pancreatic cancer.
"To see my father- in-law impacted by cancer the way he was,” says Chris’ husband Mitch, “is something I’ll never forget.”
Ottawa Home Services installs furnaces and air conditioners and decided to heat up the "pink" campaign with an innovative idea.
For every hot pink furnace they install, they're donating $200 to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.
Marc Hannah is the owner of the company, “We reached out to Carrier, Trane and Amana which are the three main suppliers and the response is terrific from them. They were first on board to help this cause out.”
So far, seven customers have gone pink. The furnaces are wrapped in a material similar to what's used on vehicles and can be removed if the homeowner changes his mind.
But, that's not going to happen with the Desrochers.
"It was a slam dunk for me,” says Mitch, “as soon as Chris contacted me to support cancer by putting in a pink furnace; I thought what a great way to support the cancer research cause.”
“It’s a good conversation piece I guess,” adds Chris.
The pink furnace campaign ends October 18th, but the company is already looking towards the spring with another campaign: pink air conditioners.
Ottawa Home Services consultants are also sporting some pretty crazy socks. It’s part of yet another campaign to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario. For every $13 pair of socks they sell, they are donating $8 directly to Make-a-Wish Eastern Ontario. You can learn more about both campaigns on-line at www.ottawahomeservices.ca
