October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. To raise awareness the United States Postal Service has issued a semipostal stamp costing 60 cents, of which 11 cents will be donated to breast cancer programs. A booklet of 20 stamps will cost $12 instead of $9.80 for a booklet of 49-cent Forever stamps.
Beginning Sunday October 1 through Tuesday, October 31, the Vicksburg post office will be promoting the sale of the Breast Cancer semipostal stamp. The Vicksburg post office is one of several hundred in the Greater Michigan District participating in this event.
Postmaster Travis Graham said, “Our retail associates will wear breast cancer T-shirts in support of this important subject. Few things reach as many Americans each day as the U.S. mail. The Breast Cancer semipostal postage stamp provides an opportunity to raise money and awareness in support of important issues,” Graham said.
The pink Breast Cancer Research stamp was the first semipostal stamp in U.S. history when it was issued on July 29, 1998 at the White House.
Over a billion of these stamps have been sold. As of May 2017, the stamp has raised over $84.4 million for breast cancer research. The money funds research to detect and treat the disease, the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Legislation to extend the stamp through 2019 was signed by former President Barack Obama.
“Visit the Vicksburg post office and purchase pink to become a part of the continued fight for a worthy cause,” Graham said.