Sentara Health Systems makes Facebook tickled pink with a new campaign to raise awareness about breast health.

On April 15, Sentara officially launched its new Get Pink with Sentara Facebook page to kick off the “Paint Facebook Pink” campaign.

“We thought that this might be a fun way to get women engaged in their breast health,” said Cheri Hinshelwood, a spokeswoman with Sentara Corporate Communications.

Sentara hopes the page will serve as a place for the community to gather and share information, she said.

The site, www.facebook.com/getpinkwithsentara, features expertise from breast health experts, events in the community and the latest developments and new findings in breast cancer research.

“It’s going to be a force of information for all things breast health,” Hinshelwood said. “It will be a way to stay connected to your breast health.”

The page also provides information on mammograms, which Hinshelwood said is the most effective way for women to find out if they have breast cancer.

Sentara follows American Cancer Society standards for mammograms – women should get a baseline mammogram at 35 and receive one every year at and after age 40.

To support the campaign, which lasts until April 30, Facebook users are encouraged to change their profile pictures to one of five photos designed to encourage breast health and cancer awareness that are available on the page.

Four of the photos feature pink flowers — roses, geraniums, petunias and azaleas — and personality characteristics like “bright and sassy” or “cheerful and upbeat.”

The final photo has a bow tie and says, “Cool men support pink.”

To end the campaign, Sentara and McDonald Garden Centers will host Pink Day April 30 at five garden center locations, including the McDonald Market on Bridge Road.

Breast health experts, including oncology certified nurses, will be present in order to answer questions and offer advice.

At the Bridge Road location, experts from the breast center at Sentara Obici Hospital will be present.

Also, McDonald will give a portion of the proceeds from the sales of pink roses, geraniums, petunias and azaleas to a local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Hinshelwood said McDonald Garden Centers wanted to be a part of the campaign because they had several employees and clients who had been affected by breast cancer and wanted to support breast health and efforts for a cure for breast cancer.

Even after April 30, the Facebook page will continue to provide a place where the community can get information about breast health, Hinshelwood said.

For more information on the breast health campaign, visit www.facebook.com/getpinkwithsentara.