Ridgefield Police Department raises over $2,400 to support breast cancer patients in 2024

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The Ridgefield Police Department has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting breast cancer patients through its annual fundraising efforts.

During a Ridgefield City Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9, Police Chief Cathy Doriot announced the department raised $2,444.54 during the 2024 Pink Patch campaign, held every October. Since the program began in Ridgefield in 2018, the department has raised over $14,000.

These contributions, collected from local residents, businesses and supporters, directly benefit the Pink Lemonade Project, a nonprofit providing vital resources for cancer patients, their families and caregivers. These services aim to empower individuals navigating the challenges of breast cancer.

“The chief’s been doing this longer than I have ... She is just a consistent champion of this program,” Susan Stearns, CEO of Pink Lemonade Project, told The Reflector last week.

Each year, the department sells 300 collectible pink police patches for $10 each, with proceeds benefiting Pink Lemonade Project. The program expanded to include car stickers featuring pink ribbons, displayed on police and public works vehicles throughout October to raise additional awareness.

For Doriot, the cause is deeply personal, as her mother battled breast cancer twice before passing away.

“Without the support of the community and the businesses, we wouldn’t be successful,” Doriot said. “It’s near and dear to my heart.”



Stearns emphasized the Pink Patch program’s value in raising awareness about breast cancer, particularly its growing impact on younger women and the importance of catching it early. Stearns emphasized the program’s dual purpose of raising awareness and funding for breast cancer resources, highlighting the increasing prevalence of aggressive breast cancers in younger women.

“The trends are that more younger women are getting breast cancer at earlier ages, unfortunately,” Stearns said. “It is not just an old people’s disease.”

Pink Lemonade Project

Founded in 2010 by Drs. Allan and Cassie Gabriel, Pink Lemonade Project offers a comprehensive range of services to support breast cancer patients and their families in Oregon and southwest Washington, including support groups; wellness retreats; counseling services; financial assistance and early detection programs to provide mammograms and other screening services.

Stearns noted that the support from local police departments and community partners has been instrumental in Pink Lemonade Project’s significant program expansion. Law enforcement agencies like the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Gresham Police Department also participate in Pink Patch Program, amplifying the initiative’s reach and impact. Thanks to the efforts of sponsors, organization and community donors, the nonprofit’s budget quadrupled in four years, from $300,000 in 2020 to $1.2 million in 2024. Stearns told The Reflector that Ridgefield police have contributed $14,604 to the $29,627 raised by local law enforcement agencies through the Pink Patch program since 2018.

Stearns said the nonprofit’s range of services has greatly expanded over the years thanks to this support. Looking ahead to 2025, Pink Lemonade Project plans to expand its outreach further. A major initiative includes the launch of a community health worker training program developed in partnership with the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The program will provide community health workers with general cancer information and a specialized breast cancer training module.

To learn more about local breast cancer screening opportunities, visit Pink Lemonade Project’s screening page at pinklemonadeproject.org/screening-mammography/. For resources, programs, retreats and events, visit pinklemonadeproject.org.