You certainly can't miss this boom. It's big, pink and sports a huge breast-cancer awareness ribbon.
For Location Blais, a JLG dealer in Quebec, Canada, a pink JLG 450AJ articulating boom lift is not merely a way to honor the company's 40th anniversary — it's also a way to raise awareness of breast cancer.
“It’s something we’ve thought about for a couple of years,” says Serge Blais, Jr., owner of the company founded in 1974 by his grandfather, Robert Blais. “Our 40th anniversary gave us the push to do it — a way to draw attention to a need in our community and say thank you for helping us build a successful business here.”
Location Blais is in the small mining town of Rouyn-Noranda, about 435 miles north of Montreal and Toronto. The local hospital does not have a radiology department, so those in the area who are diagnosed with cancer often drive to Montreal for treatment.
“And we’re not talking about a day trip,” says Blais. “Often, patients need to stay as long as six weeks while undergoing treatment.”
This means being away from family, friends, co-workers and the community, all of whom are critical to a patient’s recovery. Serge should know. His mother recently underwent treatment for breast cancer and spent long periods of time away from her family. In addition, both of his grandmothers and an aunt suffered from the disease.
Blais wanted to draw attention to the disease that has attacked his family and so many others he knows. Painting a machine pink and putting it in the field where people can see it seemed like a unique idea for the construction industry in his area.
Blais had the JLG 450AJ painted pink and then applied JLG and Location Blais stickers before attaching the largest breast cancer ribbon that would fit on the boom lift.
“So often people don’t know why the machine is painted pink, so I’m hoping this causes them to stop and ask,” he says. “They need to learn about the disease and understand its impact on families and the community. We’re hoping this will encourage leaders in our community to push for the addition of a radiologist so that patients can remain closer to home while they undergo treatment.”
In addition to raising awareness, Location Blais is donating money raised from renting the pink aerial work platform to the Canadian Cancer Society in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. And Blais isn’t stopping there. By the end of next summer, the company hopes to have three more pieces of pink equipment out in the field.
“It is important to my family,” says Blais. “But it’s just as important to the community that has supported us for 40 years. This is our way of giving back.”
For more information about JLG, visit the website at www.jlg.com/en/pink-machines.
About JLG Industries, Inc.
JLG Industries, Inc. is a world-leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of access equipment. The company’s diverse product portfolio includes leading brands such as JLG aerial work platforms; JLG and SkyTrak telehandlers; and an array of complementary accessories that increase the versatility and efficiency of these products. JLG is an Oshkosh Corporation company. For more information about JLG Industries, Inc., visit www.jlg.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, including fire, emergency, commercial and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh, JLG, Pierce, McNeilus, Jerr-Dan, Frontline, CON-E-CO, London and IMT. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, please visit to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
Comments