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Staff surprises Detros with pink trailer amid breast cancer battle
BAINBRIDGE — After what they called “the worst April Fool’s joke” six months ago, PJ and Tony Detro opened October with a much more pleasant surprise.
It was actually on April 1 that PJ learned of her breast cancer diagnosis.
Then, with Breast Cancer Awareness Month just beginning and PJ just days from completing her chemotherapy, the Detros had their employees surprise them at their trailer dealership at U.S. 231 and U.S. 36 on Oct. 1.
That was the day that Doug Bowers of Sure-Trac Trailers pulled up with a 2025 7x14 5K utility trailer customized in pink for breast cancer awareness.
Employees Mark Hoke and Mike and Amanda Mahoy were a big part of making the surprise happen.
“They’ve been surprising Tony a lot,” PJ said.
The surprises have also included breast cancer awareness T-shirts, pink cupcakes and various other promotions throughout the month.
Proceeds from the fundraisers are going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation Indiana chapter.
The hope is that the biggest fundraiser of all will be the new trailer itself. From the day of delivery through this Friday, Oct. 26, Detro is taking sealed bids on the pink “Warrior Edition” trailer, with a minimum bid of $3,000.
Anything above that minimum mark will also be donated to Susan G. Komen.
It’s something small the Detros are able to do in hopes of helping someone else in a future fight against breast cancer.
While it’s been a stressful journey for PJ, as can be expected, she was upbeat as the month began.
“I just kept looking forward to October,” she said, noting the irony of completing her chemo during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “It’s my favorite month anyway, so when I woke up and it was Oct. 1, I couldn’t believe it. I knew I’d be done soon.”
With radiation commencing after chemo, the battle isn’t over, but things should be wrapped up by the holidays.
The arrival of the trailer was certainly a lift at a critical time.
“We’re surprised and thankful to our crew for pulling this together behind our backs — in a good way, I mean,” Tony said. “It shows you people care.”
The original pink trailer isn’t the only one available at Detro. Before learning of the employees’ surprise, he had also seen examples of similar trailers and placed an order of his own.
“Ha ha! We got ours before yours,” Hoke said.
Detro has also since taken delivery of a 14-foot telescopic dump trailer in pink from Sure-Trac.
Additionally, Novae Corp., Sure-Trac’s parent company, is donating to Susan G. Komen based on certain sales goals for Detro this month. The goals aren’t even tied to the sale of Sure-Trac trailers specifically, but overall sales.
“What’s unique is they’re not saying, ‘You have to sell our brand only.’ It’s any trailer,” Hoke said. “That’s really nice of them.”
PJ isn’t necessarily surprised at such kindness from the Indiana-based company.
“Obviously, we’re very thankful for our family at Sure-Trac,” she said. “We’ve been with them so long, our kids call some of them uncle.”
The Detros have two high-schoolers and a fourth-grader, who Tony says have been quite resilient.
“The toughest part was telling the kids, but they’ve been extremely good with it,” Tony said.
Turning her attention to other women, PJ emphasized that early detection is the most important factor.
“Don’t want until you’re 40 to get a mammogram,” PJ said.