In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the White House has turned pink for one night. The North side of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the Naval Observatory, home of the vice president, are both lit up with the color of the cause for the remainder of the evening. 

“This month, we join together in honoring the women and men lost to breast cancer. In their memory, we recommit to supporting the hard-working researchers, health care providers, advocates and organizations dedicated to treating and curing this devastating disease,” President Obama said in a written statement. “We embrace our mothers, daughters, sisters  and loved ones currently battling breast cancer, along with their friends and families, and we resolve to one day defeat it.” 

The color change at the White House marks an annual tradition first started under the Bush administration in 2008 and continued under Obama. 

“We have come far in recent decades in the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Still, this year, hundreds of thousands of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and too many will be lost,” said the president, who went on to note how the Affordable Care Act will help provide annual mammograms for women over 40. 

This year alone, breast cancer will claim the lives of roughly 40,000 Americans, and 230,480 women will be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer.