Ford has officially unveiled its 2008 Warriors in Pink Mustang. Available in three colors -- black, metallic silver, and performance white -- this breast cancer-inspired car features a pink ribbon and Pony fender badge, pink striping on the rocker panel, and pink stitching on its charcoal leather seats, steering wheel, and floor mats. Only 2,500 of these Mustangs will be built, and the car will be available in the V6 coupe and convertible models.

Ford has given more than $90 million in cash and donations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure over the past 13 years. This Mustang is their latest philanthropic endeavor, and they expect to generate $500,000 in funds for this organization.

Ford says winning the race against breast cancer takes a whole lot of horsepower. And now they are adding more muscle than ever to the fight.

Seven years ago, my husband and I owned a Mustang GT. A black one with black leather interior. Our car was clean and waxed and clear of clutter. It was small and sporty and we loved it. Others loved it. We were cool. We thought so, anyway.

We don't think we are so cool now, however. We are happy, with our two children, our dented and dirty Honda Odyssey mini-van, and all the gear -- books, toys, wet wipes, a scooter, a Big Wheel, and even a little potty -- that fills the vast space of our latest vehicle. But I am not sure anyone would ever call us cool as we cruise around town in our family ride.

My husband, John, dreams of getting another Mustang. And he's primed our three-year-old son for the same dream. Danny can spot a Mustang a mile away, regardless of its year, its color, or its condition. He loves a rag-top. He prefers yellow. And he promises to buy his daddy a black Mustang as soon as he wins the lottery.

I told John last night that Ford is about to release a new Mustang, with both the exterior paint and interior stitching trimmed in pink. "Let's get it," John said, without hesitation. He isn't worried he'll look less than macho in a pink Mustang. He just wants one. And while his intentions faded a bit when he learned Ford will offer only V6 models, he still thinks a pink pony car is a cool concept.

Not everyone likes the idea of a Mustang marketed at women, says analyst Erich Merkle of IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids who adds that the Mustang is an iconic brand based on a special mix of speed and testosterone. Ford should not mess with success, he believes.

But Ford expects its Warriors in Pink trim package, slated to release this summer, to be nothing short of a success -- in more ways than one.

A portion of Mustang profits will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast cancer research. Ford has long been a sponsor of this organization and over the years has donated $87 million. In addition, the pink initiative could attract new buyers to the car, marked by slipping sales in recent months.

While all details have not been released, the newest Mustang will be available in a few colors, and customers will have the choice of convertible or hardtop.

Ford has been very active in the race for a breast cancer cure with its Warriors in Pink campaign -- which has raised 87 million dollars and counting -- for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

One of our favorite sibling blogs, Autoblog has posted Ford Bold Moves - Episode 16: The Warriors (and one wicked crash) including video of the Ford Bold Moves web-based documentary series 16th episode which features race car driver Katherine Legge during her recent race at Road America behind the wheel of Warriors in Pink race car. She crashed during the race but was able to make it out without injury and returned to racing as a Warrior in Pink five days later.

After the crash, and the return to racing as a Warrior in Pink, Legge said, "You have to keep trying. You never give up. Basically, I am a firm believer if you want something bad enough you make it happen. So you just keep plugging away. Determination is the name of the game I reckon."

Legge definitively symbolizes the attitude of a warrior.

For more on Warriors in Pink, we have these related posts:

• Warriors in Pink: enter to win new car help create virtual quilt
• Grey's Anatomy cast become Warriors in Pink
• Warriors in Pink: believers survivors fighters
• Ford's Warriors will bang their drums on ABC's The View
  

Thanks to Joel Arellano for alerting us to this story and John Neff for blogging about it!

This past week saw the launch of a first-ever partnership between Ford and ABC's The View. As part of Ford's Warriors in Pink initiative -- a campaign to get women everywhere to join the battle against breast cancer -- the co-hosts of The View during the month of October will feature Warriors sharing their personal stories of support and commitment in the fight against breast cancer.

On September 12, The View's call out for Warriors began online at abc.com
(keyword: theview) where viewers are asked to submit stories about the breast cancer Warriors in their lives. Then each week in October -- Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a different Warrior will be selected to appear on the show.

Also part of the show will be an audience give-away, featuring merchandise from Ford's Warrior collection. Beginning October 2, viewers will have the chance to purchase a limited edition The View/Warrior coffee mug -- the same mug The View co-hosts will sip from to remind audience members about the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection. All proceeds will go directly to the Komen Foundation. And on October 29, co-host Rosie O'Donnell -- who lost her mother to breast cancer and is herself a Warrior -- will attend the Race for the Cure event in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ford's Warriors in Pink campaign raises funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through the sale of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. One hundred percent of the net proceeds benefit the Komen Foundation. Over the past 12 years, Ford has contributed $87 million in gifts and donations to this life-saving venture.
Warriors in Pink merchandise is available not just during the month of October but year-round at www.fordcares.com.

To help promote Ford and Ford dealers Warriors in Pink campaign to fight breast cancer, the television cast of Grey's Anatomy Seattle Grace Hospital Derek Shepherd, Preston Burke, George O'Malley, Alex Karev, Richard Webber, Callie Torres, Cristina Yang, Miranda Bailey and Addison Shepherd have agreed to raise awareness by appearing in celebrity ads wearing Warrior In Pink clothing.

"We recognize the strength and courage it takes to deal with the everyday challenges of fighting breast cancer. We wholeheartedly support breast cancer awareness and eradication and are proud to be affiliated with Ford's Warriors in Pink program," said Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Grey's Anatomy. "We're committed to the Warrior fighting spirit and urge everyone to play a role in the battle against breast cancer."

With drums banging and faces painted, Warriors in Pink take part in Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events each year. In the last 12 years, Ford and Ford dealers have supported the Komen Foundation with contributions of more than $87 million dollars in donations. For more information on the Warriors in Pink, becoming a warrior, supporting warriors through clothing and gear purchases, and what the symbols they use represent, visit our past post Warriors in Pink: believers survivors fighters.

FREEEEEDOM! is the cry made famous with Mel Gibson's portrayal of William Wallace in the movie Braveheart. The movie stayed true to the reenactment of the Scottish warriors painting faces and chests a bright blue before battle to visually intimidate the enemy. The plant used to create the blue dye is called Woad.

While the ancient Scottish warrior Wallace met with a gruesome fate at the hands of the enemy, women in the modern world diagnosed with breast cancer might gain advantage in the war against cancer with the same plant used as an ancient blue dye in battle.

Italian researchers from the University of Bologna have discovered that the Woad plant, belonging to the same Brassicaceae plant family as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli, contains 20 times more glucobrassicin than broccoli. They also discovered that by wounding the Woad plant, they were able to increase the concentration of glucobrassicin seven times the normal level found in Woad. Glucobrassicin is known for its breast cancer-fighting abilities, and researchers are hopeful that isolating this compound will enable them to conduct clinical trials to better understand and clarify its effectiveness against cancer.

According to the Wikipedia entry on Woad, the first archaeological find of woad seeds were found in the French cave of l'Audoste, Bouches du Rhone. It is reported that Julius Caesar spoke of ancient Britons going into battle naked and using blue dye derived from Woad in face and body painting to terrify their opponents during battle. In addition, the blue dye from Woad was used as a tattooing ink and medicinally as an astringent.

Women undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer are marked with blue tattoos on their chest to show technicians where the radiation beam needs to be pointed. The blue tattoos are permanent, although after treatment a woman can have them removed.

Sheryl Crow, diagnosed with breast cancer last spring, who went through radiation treatment and has the blue tattoo, said, "I've kept my tattoo because it is a reminder for me. It's a reminder of that time. It's a reminder of how I want to look at my life. I want to remember. I don't want it to fade on me so fast."

Christy Schwan, who was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago and received the blue tattooing while undergoing radiation treatment, wrote a book called The Blue Tattoo Club. According to Schwan, in the spirit of sisterhood of breast cancer survivors, all women with the blue tattoos are members of the club. With her book, she wants to reach out and make sure no woman ever feels alone in her breast cancer journey.

Each cancer survivor is different. Some embrace cancer survivorship as a way to make the lives of others facing similar challenges and the world in general a better place. They reach out to comfort and to offer hope. Others simply want to forget as fast as possible the cancer experience. There is no one right way to be a cancer survivor, but I admire people like Crow and Schwan who do not walk away, who stick around, who fight as fierce warriors and gentle healers in this battle against cancer. It is, as Lance Armstrong said, the obligation of the cured for cancer survivors until a cure is found for all.

Ford is calling all warriors to bang your drum -- paint your face -- run -- walk -- and fight for the breast cancer cure. Ford and Ford dealers are recruiting Warriors to ramp up the fight against breast cancer. As the Ford for Warriors in Pink page states, "Ford Warriors in Pink can be found at the Komen Race for the Cure events as always, only now they will arrive as a united front, as one in Warrior gear."

The Warrior gear are symbols and each one carries a meaning. War Paint is worn by Warriors ready to enter battle; The Warriors represent the power and the courageous who fight against breast cancer; Wings honor the angels who have passed after their fight against breast cancer; Crowned Warriors remind us that breast cancer touches the lives of both genders; Feathers represent kinship and are traditionally used in battle; Hearts represent the love in the lives of breast cancer fighters, their family and friends; Chevron is a French word meaning rafter and signifies protection and Plants represent life, growth and survival.

Recently, someone remarked to me that they could not write about cancer every day. During the 30 second I Run video spot featured on the Warriors in Pink web page, there is a little girl who holds up a handwritten sign that says, My Mommy's going to make it. That is why I can write about cancer every day. As a breast cancer survivor, I believe, and I survive and I fight for all the mommies -- so one day little girls won't have to lose their mommies. That is how I can do it. Every day -- for as long as I survive. If you want to join a positive and powerful campaign in the fight against breast cancer, check out  In Every Woman there is a Warrior in Pink.