At V.F. McNeil Insurance, community involvement has always been an important part of who we are. Over the years, our team members have participated in numerous local events supporting causes that matter to the communities we serve.
Recently, after an invitation from one of our newer team members, some of us attended Seymour Pink’s Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K as part of the Two Tough Warriors team.
Founded in 2017 by Cynthia Soucy, an Account Manager at V.F. McNeil Insurance, and Debra Fernandez, owner of The Gluten Free Gringa, Two Tough Warriors grew out of their shared experience as mothers of Ellie and Tea, respectively, and their daughters’ fight against childhood cancer.
While the girls were receiving treatment in the hospital, Ellie’s family wore “Elianna’s Warriors” shirts, while Tea’s family wore “Tough for Tea” shirts. Debra came up with the idea of bringing the two families together as a team and designed the original Two Tough Warriors T-shirts, combining symbols from both shirts.
Today, the team honors Ellie’s memory following her passing in 2018 from complications related to leukemia, celebrates Tea’s journey as a childhood cancer survivor, and raises funds and awareness for breast cancer and childhood cancer research.
After completing the route, we left with a feeling of connection and community that was unlike anything we had experienced before.
For me personally, that feeling started before we even reached the starting line.
While riding the bus to the event, I sat with a woman who shared how she became connected to Seymour Pink and how grateful she was for the financial assistance the organization provided to her daughter during her battle with breast cancer.
Along the route, members of the Two Tough Warriors team shared stories that brought home just how directly Seymour Pink supports individuals and families in need. Throughout Seymour, homeowners and local residents came out in force to cheer on participants, decorate their homes in pink, and show their support.
Everywhere we turned, there was a reminder that this event was about so much more than a race. It was about people showing up for one another.
A local organization making a meaningful difference
What makes Seymour Pink especially meaningful is its commitment to helping people facing breast cancer and the financial challenges that can accompany a diagnosis.
The organization provides financial assistance to eligible patients and their families, along with educational resources, scholarships, comfort baskets, and other forms of support. Its work reaches individuals and families throughout Seymour and surrounding Connecticut communities.
Even more impressive, Seymour Pink is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit. Its dedication to the community was evident in the people we met, the stories we heard, and the incredible support we witnessed throughout the event.
You can learn more about its mission and programs at seymourpink.com.
A cause worth supporting
As a local independent insurance agency with deep Connecticut roots, we believe supporting our communities means more than simply doing business here. It means recognizing the organizations that step up when people need help most.
That’s why we’ve added Seymour Pink to our list of local Connecticut charities that our clients can choose to support through our referral-based monthly donation program.
Whether you or someone you know could benefit from Seymour Pink’s programs, you’re interested in volunteering, or you’d simply like to contribute to its mission, we encourage you to take a closer look at this remarkable organization.
Visit Seymour Pink’s website to learn more about its work, explore volunteer opportunities and resources, or find ways to donate.
We are grateful to our team member who introduced us to this event and to everyone who makes it possible. We came to walk alongside a community supporting a worthy cause. We left reminded of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
And that’s something worth celebrating.
