Mike Murray is serious about decorative concrete and he’s also serious about raising the public’s awareness of breast cancer and maybe even contributing to a cure. As owner of Murray Decorative Concrete Supply in Shawnee Mission, Kan., he decided last spring to combine these passions to move this mission forward. “Everyone has been touched by breast cancer,” Murray says.
Realizing that pink is the trademark color for breast cancer awareness, Murray had the idea of placing pink concrete. “I’ve made plenty of pink concrete by mistake,” he says. Working with Chris Sullivan, Chemsystems, Littleton, Colo., he perfected the recipe for the pink color. The first project was a concrete table produced with Jereme Montgomery at the Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association that had an American Cancer Society (ACS) logo engraved.
The success of that project inspired Murray to start Concrete Cares, an organization dedicated to helping local groups create a concrete project that raises cancer awareness. He called people all over the country to enlist their support and ended up on a conference call with more than 30 people from all parts of the industry, including from the American Society of Concrete Contractors.
So far, projects have been completed in Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Colorado. Murray’s goal is to have a pink concrete placement in every state by October (cancer awareness month) 2013. He has graciously offered to provide the pink color for up to 5 yards of integral concrete or 2 yards of dry shake. The Concrete Cares website lists others willing to donate materials or labor. His hope is that each local group will use this as a fundraiser and a permanent focal point to build awareness. “I think we are put on this earth to make a difference,” says Murray, “and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
