Frankfort Street Department is using its new leaf machine to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. With the help of a donation from Center Township of Clinton County, both sides of the leaf machine have been decorated with messages of hope directed toward those suffering from Alzheimer’s or breast cancer. City leaf collection typically takes place during October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and November, which is recognized as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
Street Department Superintendent Jason Forsythe, who proposed raising awareness while collecting leaves said, “My family has been impacted by both breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. These are terrible diseases that are hard for a lot of families. My hope is that the messages on our leaf machine will remind people that our community supports everyone who is struggling and we are all hoping for a cure.”
Mayor Judy Sheets added, “We hope this leaf machine will bring a positive message to the community in a time when we all need encouragement. This year has been challenging in many ways. It has been exceptionally challenging for people who are faced with the added difficulty of illnesses such as breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.”
The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. estimates that 30% of all women cancer diagnoses in 2020 will be breast cancer and report that 1 in 8 women in The United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in The United States.