The slogan of Fred Dailey’s business, Dailey’s Lawn Care, is “making a difference,” something he says first began with making clients’ lawns beautiful. But it quickly became much more, as Dailey works to spread breast cancer awareness, with a little help from his business and an antique Chevrolet pink dump truck.
Dailey’s journey with breast cancer began in the 1970s when his mother was diagnosed with the disease.
“A lot of people didn’t survive. They [doctors] didn’t know near as much,” he says.
Dailey’s mother won her bout with breast cancer, and at 83 years old, she continues to be out and about in the community today.
Her battle forever impacted Dailey. When he began Dailey’s Lawn Care, he honored her fight by using pink for the business’s logo and lettering.
Three years ago, a 1954 Chevy dump truck became an additional breast cancer awareness showpiece for Dailey, whose sister-in-law was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
After purchasing the truck, Dailey went to a friend with a painting hobby. He says the two scoured the internet for inspiration.
“We bounced things around a bit and put our heads together and came up with the color scheme,” he says.
The truck quickly transformed into a drivable billboard for breast cancer awareness. With a white bed, white fenders, pink doors and a pink cab, the truck is eye-catching. The personalized license plate “‘Save Em,” ensures that from bumper to bumper, the truck promotes the importance of working to eradicate breast cancer.
For the last three years, Dailey has parked the truck in front of his business just outside of Boalsburg and at various client properties.
According to Dailey, the truck has seen a lot of traffic at these locations. Some drivers have even contacted him to share their personal brushes with breast cancer.
“I had a trucker pull over on the road one day and he actually called me to get my permission to take a photo. I said ‘absolutely,’” Dailey says. “He said, ‘I really appreciate you doing this. I lost my mother to breast cancer.’”
This year, he is partnering with Pink Zone, using his truck to promote breast cancer awareness and the Lady Lions basketball program’s annual Play4Kay game.
The truck will be parked in various locations in Happy Valley leading up to the Pink Zone basketball game. Banners, purchased with funds donated by Dailey, will adorn the sides of the truck, providing passersby with information about Pink Zone and the game’s date (February 25).
Throughout the year, Dailey and his wife, Bonnie, also take the pink dump truck to various parades including the Boalsburg Memorial Day Parade and the 4thFest. Dailey has also parked the truck to increase awareness during the annual Boalsburg Wine Walk.
Dailey also works with Mount Nittany Medical Center by helping take care of the Healing Garden, a 1.5-acre green space located near the Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion.
“Anything I can do to help,” Dailey says. “I’m just trying to do my part to get people to look at [breast cancer].”
