It is an honor and privilege to be participating in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign for a second year.  I am often asked why I do it.  Here are my top 3 reasons:

I think it’s fun!  I have long been interested in fashion and clothing.  The most consistent websites I visit feature menswear and style.  I came by this very naturally as my grandfather owned a shoe store and was always well turned out.  He instilled in me that the way you dress shows respect for those around you.  It shows that you value them enough to present yourself as put together.  You honor your customer by putting forth the effort to create a pleasant environment inside your store, which includes your personal appearance.  You honor those who have passed by wearing a suit to their funeral.  Important style lessons like that. So, wearing pink every day for a month becomes a fun challenge.  I cannot simply wear the same pink item every day, but try to come up with 31 unique ways to wear it.

I believe in research and science.  The evidence is clear that medical research can find ways to cure diseases that significantly impact our quality of life.  Terrible diseases like polio, smallpox, and many others have been mostly if not totally eradicated by advancements in medicine.  As these diseases impacted whole generations before me, cancer is the challenge of our generation.

The women in my life deserve it.  My family has been very fortunate in that no one in my immediate circle has suffered from breast cancer.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all the women that are important to me.  Employees, teachers, members of our church family have been impacted.  I do this as a way to honor them.  I do this because should it ever strike anyone in my family, I want to give my wife, daughter, mother or sister the best possible chance to overcome.  These women I love dearly deserve that chance as do all the women that you love and have made a difference in your life.

You can take part of the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign. Give here!