Digging For A Cure
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: August 10, 2012
On the west side of Farley, Iowa it's hard to miss the all-pink excavator with pink breast cancer ribbon decals sitting in the parking lot of Top Grade Excavating.
"'Pinky' is what the guys have been calling it around here," Russ Horsfield says, patting the machine.
The folks at Top Grade Excavating had the machine painted pink and decorated with ribbons to support Lisa Seymour, whose husband works for the company.
Doctors diagnosed her with stage IIIC breast cancer in late April.
She said she has a track record of annual breast exams and no family history of cancer.
"I just encourage everybody to just be aggressive about anything with your breast," she says.
She has a rosy view on her recovery.
"Everybody keeps me strong. I'm going to fight. Really hard," she says.
"Pinky" the excavator made its surprise debut Saturday at Epworth's annual Town and Country parade, followed by a party for Seymour.
The excavator is fully functional.
In fact, eastern Iowans could spot it at local construction sites.
"We actually work from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids to Manchester, Waterloo," Horsfield says. "We probably travel a 70-75-mile area from here, so it'll be in the area."
The back of the machine says, "Digging for a Cure."
The 2004 John Deere 160 excavator is actually the first machine the business bought when it opened in 2004.
Only recently did it receive its makeover.
"'Pinky' is what the guys have been calling it around here," Russ Horsfield says, patting the machine.
The folks at Top Grade Excavating had the machine painted pink and decorated with ribbons to support Lisa Seymour, whose husband works for the company.
Doctors diagnosed her with stage IIIC breast cancer in late April.
She said she has a track record of annual breast exams and no family history of cancer.
"I just encourage everybody to just be aggressive about anything with your breast," she says.
She has a rosy view on her recovery.
"Everybody keeps me strong. I'm going to fight. Really hard," she says.
"Pinky" the excavator made its surprise debut Saturday at Epworth's annual Town and Country parade, followed by a party for Seymour.
The excavator is fully functional.
In fact, eastern Iowans could spot it at local construction sites.
"We actually work from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids to Manchester, Waterloo," Horsfield says. "We probably travel a 70-75-mile area from here, so it'll be in the area."
The back of the machine says, "Digging for a Cure."
The 2004 John Deere 160 excavator is actually the first machine the business bought when it opened in 2004.
Only recently did it receive its makeover.
