Monday, November 18, 2013
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (Nov. 15, 2013)—Medline named Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pa., as the winner of its Pink Glove Dance. As a result, $25,000 will be donated to its charity of choice, the American Cancer Society, providing free transportation for treatment to central Pennsylvania breast cancer patients in need. Additionally, Medline and participating hospitals will donate another $1 million to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and other local breast cancer charities nationwide. More than $2.2 million have been donated through the campaign and Medline Foundation since 2005. "Participating in the Medline Pink Glove Dance video gave us the opportunity to gather both employees and community members to bring awareness to breast cancer and celebrate survivors and caregivers," said Sue Hallick, executive vice president and chief nursing officer, Geisinger Health System. The Pink Glove Dance campaign, inspired by a Medline employee whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, started with just one hospital and 200 healthcare workers. Today, it has grown into a worldwide movement involving 80,000 participants globally and capturing more than 20 million online views. What makes it so special is that it is the only campaign that unites clinicians with their patients and their communities in the fight for a cure. This year's competition spanned 35 states and Panama and included more than 100 teams. Second place honors, for the second consecutive year, went to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., which raised money for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Pennsylvania. Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, came in third and supported the American Cancer Society. "We are thrilled with the growing response we receive from healthcare professionals and their communities each year," says Sue MacInnes, Medline's chief marketing officer and co-founder of the Medline Pink Glove Dance. "We thank everyone involved in this unique campaign for reminding those who are facing cancer that they are not alone and that sometimes not just laughing but dancing can be the best medicine." Sponsored by Medline— the maker of the pink exam gloves—the Pink Glove Dance competition included video submissions from hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other organizations. To view all of this year's video entries, visit pinkglovedance.com.