Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Stars in Their Own Pink Glove Dance Video to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

THIBODAUX, LA – October 4, 2011 -- The Pink Glove Dance is spreading to Thibodaux Regional Health System. More than 150 staff members at Thibodaux Regional are starring in their own Pink Glove Dance video to help spread the word about breast cancer awareness and prevention. The video was submitted to a national competition to determine the best Pink Glove Dance video. The competition is sponsored by Medline Industries, Inc., manufacturer of the gloves and producer of the original Pink Glove Dance video.

As part of the contest, Thibodaux Regional’s video was posted on www.pinkglovedance.com on October 3 along with the videos of the other participants to be viewed by the public. Viewers can then vote on their favorite video (voting requires a Facebook® account). The top three winners receive a donation in their name to the breast cancer charity of their choice. Thibodaux Regional will dedicate the funds to the Bayou Region Affiliate, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Bayou Region Affiliate is comprised of Assumption, Lafourche, St. James, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes. Winners of the contest will be announced October 28 on pinkglovedance.com. The original Pink Glove Dance video premiered in November 2009 and featured 200 Portland, Oregon hospital workers wearing pink gloves and dancing in support of breast cancer awareness and prevention. Today the video has more than 13 million views on YouTube® and has spawned hundreds of pink glove dance videos and breast cancer awareness events across the country. Thibodaux Regional participated in a sequel produced last October featuring 4,000 healthcare workers and breast cancer survivors throughout North America.

“Our staff was so excited and inspired to be part of the Pink Glove Dance Video competition. We immediately wanted to get involved to help make a difference at our facility, in our community and even around the country,” said Toni Martinez, Marketing Director at Thibodaux Regional. It was not only a lot of fun to participate, but the awareness and discussion about breast cancer we’re going to create from the video is the real satisfaction we’re hoping to take away from this experience.”

The song used in Thibodaux Regional’s video was Firework by Katy Perry. An interesting side note is that the artist gave permission to use this song specifically for the Pink Glove Dance competition.
Medline filmed the original Pink Glove Dance video at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Ore., which quickly generated thousands of responses, letters and e-mails from survivors, family and friends. It has entertained and inspired laughter and, for many, it has evoked memories of their own battle with breast cancer or experiences faced by loved ones.

“As a way to extend our breast cancer awareness campaign, we developed a pink glove called Generation Pink™,” said Andy Mills, president of Medline. “Gloves are also the first point of contact between the healthcare worker and the patient. And, because the glove is pink, we hoped it would get people talking about breast cancer.”
Medline is donating a portion of each sale of the pink gloves to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). To date, Medline has donated more than $800,000 to the NBCF to fund mammograms for individuals who cannot afford them.

Why a Pink Glove Video Contest?

As a result of the original Pink Glove Dance video and the sequel videos, Medline has received hundreds of calls from healthcare facilities, breast cancer survivor groups, schools and other organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada inquiring about participating in another video.
“The response we received has been overwhelming and heartwarming,” said Sue MacInnes, Medline’s chief marketing officer. “We were flooded with calls, e-mails and letters about the joy the videos have brought, and people were asking if they could participate in another video. We didn’t want to leave anyone out who wanted to be in a Pink Glove Dance video, so we thought a competition could include everyone who wanted to participate. All these videos from the competition will help bring attention to breast cancer awareness and prevention.”

About Thibodaux Regional Health System

Thibodaux Regional Health System, a 185-bed acute care facility, provides inpatient and outpatient care for the people of Lafourche and seven surrounding parishes. Highly specialized services offered include Heart Surgery, Medical and Radiation Oncology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, General, Laparoscopic, and Bariatric Surgery, Pulmonology, Rheumatology, Women’s Services, Sleep Disorders, Behavioral Health, and Inpatient and Outpatient Physical Rehabilitation Services. Nationally recognized for quality care and service, Thibodaux Regional has been named a Distinguished Hospital by J.D. Power and Associates and has been honored with the Press Ganey Summit Award for high levels of patient satisfaction. For more information, visit www.thibodaux.com.

About Medline

As the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, Medline is focused on helping to improve the quality of care for patients and residents. Breast cancer awareness is a natural extension of Medline’s corporate mission to help save lives through the early detection of breast cancer. Based in Mundelein, Ill., Medline manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets.

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