Why the Upside Down Ribbon?

At Friends, we are always asked why wear our ribbon “upside down.” With Friends For an Earlier Breast Cancer Test®, also know as Friends...You Can Count On®, there is always a personal connection.

In the early formative years of the organization, a local Triad advertising company decided to generously help the organization with logo design and collateral information. It was our good fortune to work with a wonderful and talented young woman, Mandy LeBeau, who was an Account Manger with the company. After she grasped and understood the mission of the organization and the realization of the opportunity that was ours, Mandy suggested that we turn the ribbon upside down to show that Friends is looking at breast cancer from a different perspective. Earlier Detection…A New Direction - essentially the essence of the organization in five words. There it was, our “AHA” moment! Why didn’t we think of that?

Then she began to tell us her story. Mandy was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer at 26 years of age. She was young in her career, her experiences, her hopes and her life. Mandy was the epitome of who Friends is working for. There was never a question, then or now, that the upside down ribbon was the right choice and it would be continued with Friends forever.

Mandy succumbed to inflammatory breast cancer at 31 years of age. She never had a chance to realize her dreams or truly experience life. This is unacceptable. We, collectively, cannot turn our heads.

Mandy will always be remembered in the work of our organization because of the “upside down” pink ribbon.