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- Ford Warriors in Pink and Lifetime Television’s “Army Wives” today announced the winner of the “Army Wives Gives Back” program, which honors real-life army wives who have survived breast cancer
- The winner, 34-year-old Chelsea Shand, filmed a vignette that will air during the Oct. 26 episode of “Army Wives”
- Ford honored Shand by presenting her with a limited-edition 2009 Warriors in Pink Ford Mustang convertible
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 22, 2008 – Officials from Ford Warriors in Pink and Lifetime Television’s “Army Wives” today announced the winner of the “Army Wives Gives Back” program, which honors real-life army wives who have survived breast cancer.
Thirty-four-year-old Chelsea Shand, who is currently stationed with her husband at Fort Bragg, N. C., was selected from more than 1 million entries for embodying the spirit of many of the country’s military spouses. She will appear in a special two-minute vignette that will air during the Oct. 26 episode of “Army Wives” at 10 p.m. EST.
Shand was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2004, the same time that her husband was being deployed to Iraq. After undergoing surgery and several rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, she received devastating news from her doctor.
“The doctor said that my husband and I would not be able to conceive a child,” she recalled. “We didn’t have any children, so the news hit us pretty hard.”
Exemplifying the true fighting spirit of a Warrior, Shand didn’t give up. After nearly four years in remission, she found out that she was pregnant.
“I was shocked and overjoyed,” she said. In July, Shand and her husband welcomed their son.
As the winner of the “Army Wives Gives Back” program, Shand was granted a wish. She had long dreamed of owning a convertible, and Ford made that dream come true. Shand says she was stunned when “Army Wives” cast member Kim Delaney presented her with a limited-edition 2009 Warriors in Pink Mustang convertible during the filming of the vignette, which airs Sunday night.
“I was totally overwhelmed,” she said. “There’s not a lot of good that comes out of a breast cancer diagnosis – and if I could choose, I would choose never to have breast cancer – but this was really cool.”
Connie Fontaine, manager, Ford Brand Content and Alliances, says Ford is proud to partner with Lifetime Television for the “Army Wives Gives Back” program to raise awareness of breast cancer and help save lives.
“This program has given Ford the opportunity to honor someone who truly demonstrates the fighting spirit when faced with adversity, which is the cornerstone of our Warriors in Pink campaign,” said Fontaine.
Prior to her diagnosis, Shand admits she knew little about breast cancer.
“I didn’t know what breast cancer meant,” she said. “I never knew anyone who had it, and I was very uneducated about the subject.”
Now, as a breast cancer survivor, Shand says she is determined to help increase awareness of breast cancer – especially among younger women.
“It is a cause that is incredibly dear to my heart,” she said. “When I first found the lump in my breast, everyone told me that I was too young to have breast cancer, but I wasn’t. I want other women to learn more about this disease and know that it can happen to anyone.”
Ford has been a national series sponsor of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for 14 years and has dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind donations to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Since its launch in 2006, Warriors in Pink apparel and gear – available for purchase at www.fordcares.com – has generated more than $1.5 million, with all net proceeds going to Komen.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and it launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. For more information, visit www.komen.org or call 1-800-I’M AWARE.
About Lifetime
Lifetime is the leader in women’s television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and the Walt Disney Company.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.