October 2011 marked the beginning of a huge campaign for Sims Crane & Equipment. To launch it’s 2012 Campaign for the cure, Sims Crane & Equipment unveiled its 70 Ton Linkbelt that was painted pink, and will be the ‘face’ of the campaign. Over the next year, every time the crane is rented, Sims Crane & Equipment will donate $100 to Komen for the Cure, a national non profit that conduct’s 15 3 Day walk for the cure events across the country, including one in Tampa Bay. This year, the Tampa Bay Komen walk raised nearly 4 million dollars for the cure.
It’s a campaign that’s very dear to the Sims Crane & Equipment family, and the crane was named the Mary Helen, after CCO operator Bubba Tillis’s mother-in-law, a breast cancer survivor. She was on hand at the unveiling, and spoke to the group of employees and family gathered around. “More than 200,000 women will die from breast cancer this year alone”, said Mary Helen. “ The number of survivors is increasing, and I’m grateful to be counted as one. Thank you for supporting Komen, and giving me another birthday”.
Sims Crane & Equipment joined the more than 1500 walkers that took on the challenge of raising $2300 and walking 60 miles in 3 days, on Saturday, October 29th. Family members, friends and survivors cheered alongside the crane and encouraged walkers to sign the crane and tell us why they were walking. The crane was placed at the 15th mile of day 2, and at that point the walkers needed all of the support they could get to push through those last 5 miles to reach camp. Walker Kim Smith-Brock said, “I cannot thank you all enough for the amazing mini-party you gave us on our 60 mile journey. Fantastic support and you gave us the pep to finish day two!”
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| Onsite at the Mary Helen's first job |
Just one day after the unveiling, the Mary Helen was already on-site at its first job; and its impact was immediately felt. Nikol Hillman, Sims Crane’s Social Media Director was onsite to document the first lift. Leonard “Pepper” Ray approached her and thanked Sims for painting the crane pink and supporting the cause, after a brief pause and tears in his eyes, he shared the story of how he lost his wife, Linda Ray, to breast cancer just three weeks ago, and asked if he could put her name on the crane. After a big hug and some more tears, Pepper walked to the crane where he proudly wrote Linda’s name. His co-workers gathered in a somber remembrance with him and also signed the crane. “This is what it’s all about, this right here is why we did this” states Hillman.
As this campaign continues, if you’d like to know more about our campaign, or the Susan G. Komen foundation, please follow our blog or go to www.ww5.komen.org.
