STHS Invites Community To Participate In Its Think Pink Parade To Help Raise Awareness Of Breast Cancer In The Rio Grande Valley

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, STHS encourages the community to come together to help encourage Valley women to prioritize their breast health as part of its Think Pink Parade

Breast cancer remains a serious public health issue in the United States due to its high incidence, significant mortality rates and the increasing projected cases among younger women, especially in medically underserved communities like the Rio Grande Valley.

This year, an estimated 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society, while 42,170 women are expected to succumb to the disease in 2025.

When detected early, breast cancer has a high cure rate, especially when it is localized, making awareness of the life-threatening disease essential to improving survival rates.

“This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, South Texas Health System is once again bringing the community together  to shine a spotlight on a disease that profoundly impacts the lives of those diagnosed, as well as their families, friends and communities,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, South Texas Health System. “We’ll be launching our Think Pink initiative this October by hosting our fifth annual Think Pink Parade as a way of bringing together survivors, families and advocates to provide support while raising awareness for breast cancer in the Rio Grande Valley.”

Taking place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in the main parking lot of STHS McAllen, this year’s Think Pink Parade will once again feature dozens of vehicles pinktastically decorated to show collective support for those battling and surviving breast cancer, reminding them that they are not alone, while remembering those lives lost to the disease.

STHS is inviting Rio Grande Valley community members to show their support and help raise awareness of this important cause by decorating their vehicles in shades of pink and driving them along the parade route around the hospital’s main parking lot.

Participants can decorate their vehicles onsite from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m., with the official parade set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the best decorated vehicles in several categories, including: First Responders, Community/Car Club and STHS Staff. Participation is free and open to all.

Following the parade, a short program featuring local breast cancer survivors will take place. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with representatives from various STHS departments and local community organizations about their programs and services, as well as get no-cost health screenings.

“Every year, the STHS Think Pink Parade serves as a visually stunning reminder of the importance of routine screenings while empowering women to take control of their health and promoting supportive lifestyle changes,” says Castañeda. “By providing accessible information and a platform for breast cancer survivors to share their personal battles with the disease, we’re hoping to increase public knowledge about breast cancer prevention and the critical importance of early detection through regular screenings like mammograms, which will hopefully help save precious lives.”

The Think Pink festivities will continue throughout the month of October with Mammo Mondays, held each week, where attendees can learn more about the breast cancer screening options at STHS McAllen, STHS Edinburg, STHS ER Mission and STHS ER Weslaco.

The Mammo Mondays schedule is as follows:

October 6, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; South Texas Health System ER Mission

October 13, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; South Texas Health System McAllen

October 20, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; South Texas Health System Edinburg

October 27, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; South Texas Health System ER Weslaco

Additionally, special cash pricing of $100 for 2D, $155 for 3D mammograms and $155 for bone density screenings will be offered throughout the entire month of October.

For more information on the Think Pink Parade, visit the STHS Facebook Events page or contact the STHS Marketing Department at (956) 388-2033 or STHSMarketing@uhsinc.com.

To schedule a mammogram or learn more about the special rate offered during the month of October, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com/think-pink or call the STHS pre-registration line at (956) 388-2190.

About South Texas Health System

South Texas Health System is a multi-hospital health care system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four hospital campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral Health campus location. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first dedicated children’s hospital and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, a specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information on the system, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.