Diamond R Equipment to sell pink tractor for breast cancer research

By Neal A. Johnson, UD Editor
Posted 11/25/20

Trisha Rehagen of Westphalia, whose battle with breast cancer was featured in the Sept. 28 issue of the Unterrified Democrat, said the war is far from over. She continues to serve as an advocate for …

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Diamond R Equipment to sell pink tractor for breast cancer research

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Trisha Rehagen of Westphalia, whose battle with breast cancer was featured in the Sept. 28 issue of the Unterrified Democrat, said the war is far from over. She continues to serve as an advocate for weekly self-breast exams and annual mammograms, but she also believes in helping doctors find a cure, so she and her husband, Jim, owners of Diamond R Equipment in Westphalia, are selling a customized pink tractor.
“I’m still taking medicine every day for the next five years, and I have a shot once every three months,” she said. “The complication with the medicine is that it weakens my bones, so every six months I have infusions to make the bones stronger. They’re hoping to keep this cancer from spreading to my bones.”
Trisha completed chemotherapy earlier this year and anticipates at least two more reconstruction surgeries, noting she is too young to forgo such treatment.
“I’m not even 40 yet,” she said. “If I was older, I may not worry about it, but it’s part of a woman’s identity.”
Still, it’s complicated. Her body would not accept the expander on the left side, so she will not be able to get a traditional breast implant because they are made of the same material. Her other option is to have fat sucked out of her stomach, buttocks, and legs and have it formed into her breast on the left side.
“We’ll see how things pan out,” she said.
In the meantime, Trisha is excited about the pink tractor sitting in Diamond R’s lot.
When the idea materialized, the plan was to sell raffle tickets but that has changed.
“We decided to sell the tractor instead of raffling it off because this will allow us to raise more money for research,” said Trisha, who plans to donate the estimated $7,000 in profit to the Community Breast Care Project based in Jefferson City.
Jim added he wanted to make sure the funds would benefit local women in need. “They donate money directly to women who need it,” he said. “That’s important to us.”
Community Breast Care Project works with Goldschmidt Cancer Center and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, which is a bonus since Trisha received her treatment there.
Diamond R and LS Tractor split the cost of a new LS MT225s tractor with a loader, and 25hp Hydrostat transmission. Extras were put in place by other generous vendors, including a custom-painted Rhino Cutter, donated by Rhino Ag, a five-foot utility blade and posthole digger donated by Woods Equipment, and a 14-foot trailer donated in part by Rivercraft Trailers.
O’Reilly Automotive donated paint for the project, and Redel Automotive Repair owner Billy Redel donated his time to repaint the tractor. World Class Signs of Bland donated decals for the tractor as well.
“We are so grateful to everyone who had a part in this,” Trisha said.
This tractor is available at a package deal price of $20,350, with net profits going to the Community Breast Care Project.
Trisha said that women — and men — can help themselves with weekly self-exams and routine checkups with the doctor.
“I never thought I’d get cancer,” she said. “It can come on fast, so it’s very important to know your body and recognize when something isn’t right. Check yourself regularly and if you feel any kind of lump get it checked out because early detection could be the difference between life and death.”
For more information, visit Diamond R Equipment on Facebook.