Shades of Pink Gala returning for fourth year
Published 10:55 am Friday, October 14, 2016
by Audrey Lee
FRANKLIN
The “Pink Is Powerful” Cancer Support Group will host its fourth Annual “Shades of Pink” Gala on Sunday, Oct. 30. The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Regional Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College.
The event will include dinner, entertainment, door prizes and our special guest speaker will be Ricky Blunt, a cancer survivor with a powerful testimony. Blunt is the director of Transportation at Southampton County Schools, an elder at First Baptist Church Franklin and a man of faith.
Our hostess for the evening will be Okema Harper Bowers, a native of Franklin.
The fourth annual Pink is Powerful Gala is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 30. Survivors and caregivers will be honored. Deceased members will also be remembered during a ceremony. — Submitted | Audrey Lee
This year our honorees vary because we realize the importance of not only recognizing our survivors but the spouses and the families of survivors and also the fact that cancer has no race, sex or status deviation. This year’s honorees include the following: Mary Boone (Survivor), Carrie B. Jones (Survivor), Ebony Holland (Caregiver), Clarissa Blunt (Caregiver), Debra Burton (Caregiver) and Clarence Baker (Caregiver).
The gala also includes a special memorial recognition of those who have retired and gained their wings.
Past members: Sandra Baxter Smith and Joyce Holloway Overton. This year includes: Kenya Branch, Nikita Outlaw, Doreen Council, Sendy Lashley, Joyce Baker, Latasha Wilson, the Rev. Henry Blunt, Darryl Wellington, Ritchie Artis and Johnny Ray Holloway.
The first gala was given in honor of Audrey H. Lee by the Empowerment and Uplifting Foundation. Lee is the founder of the “Pink Is Powerful” cancer support group, which was founded in October 2013. She started the group as an advocate for cancer survivors through personal experience.
Her testimony: “I am a breast cancer survivor, and when I was going to radiation I met people who needed financial assistance and rides to and from treatments and someone to talk to about what they were going through. This caused an inner stirring to begin a cancer support group.
“The mission of the group is to educate, encourage and empower individuals during their journey with cancer. With the money raised at the last gala, were able to assist with gas money in order for patients and survivors to get to appointments and treatments, send flowers during hospital stays, encourage them throughout their journey and bring counselors, oncologists and survivors to speak to the group. In addition, this year with the assistance of our sponsors and resources and Engram’s Funeral Home we were able to pay for one of our members funeral and purchase a headstone.
“With the funds raised from our 4th Annual 2016 Gala, we hope we can continue our mission. At each one of our meetings we either serve brunch or lunch and we give away prizes.”
Tickets for the 2016 Shades of Pink Gala can be purchased presently for a $25 per person donation and a table of eight can be reserved for $200. Vendors are welcome at a cost of $25 plus the cost of ticket(s). Donations can be made out to “Pink Is Powerful CSG” and sent to P.O Box 401, Franklin, VA 23851. If you need further information or have questions, you can contact audreyasurvivor@gmail.com or totalcaretaxi@yahoo.com or call 556-5765 or 742-6081. We are asking that tickets and vendor booths be purchased as soon as possible.
