ARLINGTON — On Tuesday, Dec. 4, the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation received a holiday gift that’s on track to become an annual tradition.

Paul Brown, publisher of The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times, presented a check for $1,012.01 to the Cascade Valley Hospital Board of Directors for breast cancer awareness.

The amount of the check drew from portions of the advertising proceeds from the two newspapers on this year’s “Pink Editions,” dated Oct. 10, whose stories likewise promoted breast cancer awareness.

“I came into this job a little less than a year ago wondering what I could do, not just to disseminate information, but to get involved with the community,” said Brown, who expressed a desire to give back to the community that he sees as having supported both The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times so strongly for so many years.

Brown was inspired by the women in his own life to become a booster for the cause of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, and what began with obtaining pink paper for the presses ultimately saw advertisers volunteering portions of their proceeds and reporters covering various aspects of breast cancer and its impacts.

“This wasn’t just the Globe and the Times,” Brown said. “This was a very collaborative effort.”

“Those stories in the paper were great,” CVH Board President Barbara Tolbert said. “They highlighted how many young women are survivors.”

Cascade Valley Hospital and Clinics Representative Heather Logan noted that fear is often as inhibiting as a lack of awareness when it comes to factors that keep people from receiving treatment in time.

“Awareness of breast cancer is actually pretty high,” Logan said. “It’s the fear of that diagnosis that I think stops a lot of people from following through.”

More than one Cascade Valley Hospital Board member acknowledged having dealt with cancer on a more personal level, either through their own diagnoses or those of their loved ones.

“If you hear that a friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or any other cancer, call that friend, and then get yourself checked out,” CVH Board member Sharon Billdt said.

Brown promised the Cascade Valley Hospital Board of Directors that “Pink Editions” of The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times would continue every October for the length of his tenure as publisher.

“I think Paul and I started our jobs at the same time,” laughed Tolbert, referring to her own term of office as Arlington mayor. “I’m just delighted that this will continue, and I hope this year’s total will set the benchmark for the years to come.”