At the New York Auto Show a few weeks back, I had the chance to check out a Mustang Ford unveiled for the 2009 model year. No it doesn’t have increased performance, 620 horsepower, or any over-the-top styling cues to it. Instead, the simple V6 Mustang Ford took the wrapper off of will do something different.
Wait, did you say V6? Yes, I did. The car in question is the “Warriors in Pink” Mustang, which was originally launched in 2006. This particular Mustang is available in black, white or silver colors, and in a coupe or convertible format. What separates this car from the rest of the ponies in the stable is (obviously) it’s looks and what it stands for. The “Warriors in Pink” Mustang features a pink rocker panel stripe, pink stitching on black GT seats, the same color stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the Mustang Pony badge overlaid on top of a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon.
Surely by now you have figured out that the car is done up in the pink regalia to raise awareness for breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer accounts for more than 1 in 4 cancers diagnosed in U.S. women, and it is estimated that approximately 178,000 new cases were reported in 2007. In conjunction with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Ford and the Mustang nameplate are doing a service to finding a cure for breast cancer. With each sale of a “Warriors in Pink” Mustang, Ford will donate $500 to the Komen for the Cure Foundation, which is double what it has donated in year’s prior. The Mustang will be available through dealers this summer. Money is also being raised through the sale of “Warriors in Pink” apparel, which is available on www.fordcares.com. For the record, 100% of the net proceeds on apparel sales goes right to the Komen for the Cure Foundation. Overall, Ford’s goal is to donate more than $1 million through the sales of the “Warriors in Pink” Mustang, apparel, and other donations.
While the “Warriors in Pink” Mustang may not be a high-horsepower, rubber-scorching, Brand-X killer, it is a Pony car that stands for hope. Having seen my wife’s grandmother go through the latter stages and treatments of breast cancer, having hope that there will be a cure is a hope that we all dream will one day be realized. It is nice to know that there are companies like Ford that are willing to give back to society and offer help and hope any way they can.
Now if only I could drop a GT500 motor in a “Warriors in Pink” Mustang and torture the tires, the neighbors, and breast cancer…