Daren M. Vazquez, a Nazareth native, spends most of his day selling macho motorcycles such as Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis and Piaiggios.

But recently the marketing manager for Eurosports in Coopersburg has been keeping his eyes on a little pink Vespa.

“Vespa is one of the most trendy products out there,” Vazquez said. “It created pink Vespas just for breast cancer awareness. It’s a neat way to get their name out."

The Vespa (Wasp in Italian) was born in 1946 in Italy as a low-cost product for the masses. Owned by Piaggio, the Vespa has become the No. 1 scooter company in the United States, according to the company. Today, one costs around $5,000, with the special pink model at nearly $6,000, Vazquez said.

That popularity is helping Vazquez and more than a dozen companies in the Lehigh Valley to use the pink scooter to sell breast cancer awareness to women and girls.

The scooter is being displayed at nine businesses in the Lehigh Valley this fall, with each having 500 tickets to be sold in drawing to be held in late October. The winning prize at each site, of course, is one of the pink Vespas.

Valley Social magazine and the Get in Touch Foundation of Milford, Conn., are joining Eurosports in honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raising a projected $10,000 in the pink Vespa drawing. Cost of a ticket is $20 or $35 for two.

Displaying the scooters are Melt Grill in Center Valley, Prudential Patt, White Real Estate in Allentown, Millenia Salon and Spa in Palmer Township, Metro Beauty Academy in Allentown, Sette Luna in Easton, Elegant Motor Cars in Bangor, Jems, Jewels and Gold in Montgomeryville, Starters Clubhouse in Bethlehem and Eurosports.

Sponsors without Vespas on display include Scribble’s and Drips in Laurys Station, Dawn Photography in Bethlehem, Dealer Spike from Seattle and Community Warriors in Allentown.

Vespa scooters have gained popularity in the U.S. not only for their style, but for fuel economy. It costs only $9 to fill its empty tank a fuel economy is close to 100 miles per gallon, the company said.

“With the current economy, we need to think about how to be creative,’’ said Vazquez, who owns the motorcycle company, Machines of Mahem, in Allentown. “We need to get by the gas prices and then our way of life would be different. We call it Vespanomics.’’

But helping girls learn how to detect signs of breast cancel should not rely on the economy, he said.

Girls, from fifth to 12th grade, need a method of testing. Get In Touch has developed an  interactive teaching aid known as the “Daisy Wheel.“

The wheel is presented to 5th grade girls by health educators and is then used annually through the 12th grade to provide for a lifetime of informed self-examination.

Promoters are looking to gain $10,000 from the event, so they can make 10,000 “Daily Wheels” and help 10,000 girls.

“The Pink Vespa Program is a special way to touch the valley,” said freelance writer C. David Baker, who is involved with Eurosports. “It’s an encouraging example of how creative collaboration works to serve communities.“