Driving home a point

It won't be too difficult to spot Anderson Brothers' truck driver Tammy Butler when she hits the road in her truck this spring.

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Butler, who has worked for Anderson Brothers for the past 29 years, will be behind the wheel of the truck she's driven for the past four years, but the truck has received a completely new makeover.

The truck has been outfitted in purple vinyl and features a Relay For Life theme to help promote the American Cancer Society in its cancer support and awareness campaign. The truck will make its debut in the Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday, as well as several other events, including Brainerd's Fourth of July parade and Relay for Life of Crow Wing County on July 23 at Adamson Field in Brainerd.

Anderson Brothers just got the truck back Tuesday and unveiled the new rig Wednesday. When the truck isn't appearing in parades or other events, it will be hauling paving materials each day to the various Anderson Brothers' projects throughout the five-county region.

Tammy Butler, an Anderson Brothers employee and a three-year breast cancer survivor, will drive this Anderson Brothers truck that was outfitted to promote Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society as it's used to haul road construction materials. Anderson Brothers unveiled its newly designed truck Wednesday at its Brainerd offices.

Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

The purple truck, which features the slogan "Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back," was the brainchild of Terry Curtis, director of business development and government and public affairs for Anderson Brothers.

Curtis said many employees have been affected by cancer, either personally or someone in their family. He said he was trying to find a way that Anderson Brothers could get involved with an awareness campaign and what better way than using one of their trucks, which are highly visible on the roadways during the construction season.

"The key was to have it be big and bold, but not too busy," Curtis said of the truck's new design.

"When Terry called and told us what they wanted to do, it was amazing," said Denice Young, Crow Wing County Relay For Life event chair.

Butler was chosen to drive the purple truck not only because she's an exemplary worker and her truck is frequently on the roadways but because she is a cancer survivor herself.

Butler was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. She underwent radiation treatment and chemotherapy and is now cancer free.

"It looks really neat," Butler said of the truck.

"For a construction company, you don't normally think of things like this," said Dave Johnson, president of Anderson Brothers. "We've never done anything like this before. The idea of having Tammy drive it added to the appeal because she is a survivor. I think this will make for a fun partnership."

"It's very creative, very much out of the box," said Brenda Beard, a community relations manager for the Midwest division of the American Cancer Society.

Curtis said the truck's cab was outfitted in a purple vinyl that will last about three years.

"We're excited and hope it'll generate a lot of awareness," said Curtis.

Relay For Life organizers have set a goal of raising $145,000 for the July 23 event this year. However, Young said that they would like to raise $175,000. If they do, Young said Sue Tiegs, an American Cancer Society community relations staff member for the Minnesota Region, has offered to have someone shave her head if that goal is reached.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.