WOW! We plan and stress for so long and then Piggin' Out for Pink flies by before we know it! This year's event was yet another success. The event was held at the Old Cannon Towel Store in Cannon Village (Kannapolis, NC). The building is property of the North Carolina Research Campus and was donated to our local non-profit. (THANK YOU TO NCRC for your generosity!!)
Chelish Moore worked her magic on this building! It went from being an empty retail space with blank walls to a beautiful venue dazzled with pinks. The tables were adorned with black accents, white flowers, pink candles, etc. Two bright white billowing drapes hung in the center of the venue dividing the tables, gathered with pink bows. Job well done, Chelish! We received so many compliments as people entered the doors.
We had a gorgeous old PINK car out front of the venue! Great photo op for our survivors! (Thank you to Linda for letting us show off your fabulous pink car!)
After our delicious dinner by Punchy's Diner, we asked two of our survivors to share their stories with everyone. The first to share was Donna Rowland. She attended last year's Piggin' Our for Pink just days after her mastectomy. She was inspired and this year, she is a part of our exhibit as a proud survivor.
The key to Donna's story is getting mammograms! She mentioned that she almost skipped last year's mammogram, which ended up being the one that they discovered the cancer through. And you're never too old for a mammogram! Since her diagnosis, her mother and aunt (both in their seventies) were diagnosed with breast cancer!
Emily Riera was the other survivor we asked to speak. To hear her story, you realize her mother is a HUGE part of her battle against breast cancer. Therefore, her mother (Mary Anne Freeman) joined her in sharing with us. Mary Anne is a survivor herself and is very active with the American Cancer Society, so to her that her daughter had breast cancer was devastating.
Mary Anne, Emily, and her twin sister used genetic testing to find that they all carry the BRCA-1 gene. They're doing all they can to fight for a cure so that their daughters and granddaughters don't have to go through this.
Read this essay by Mary Anne.
KA Studios volunteered their time and talent again this year to present a documentary film. We featured two different survivors and shared the film with all who attended.
It's one thing to read a survivor's story, but to hear it in their emotional voice, it is another.
(THANKS KEITH!)
This year, in addition to the silent auction, we had a live auction led by Alan Fisher (a relative of one of our survivors, Renda Welch). We had some great items to auction including:
"Reel Architecture," a painting donated by John Williams Jr, valued at $500
Opalescence Take Home Whitening System, donated by Renda Welch, DDS, valued at $400
Wines for Humanity In-Home Wine Tasting for 14 ppl, donated by Renee Habrack, valued at $400
Half Day Fishing Trip on Lake Norman, donated by Holbrooks, Valued at $250
$500 gift card to Irresistible Portraits, donated by Karen and Buddy Goforth, valued at $500
White and Pink Gold "Ribbon" pendant necklace, donated by Falls Jewelers, valued at $300
One Round of Golf for Four at Irish Creek, Donated by the Club at Irish Creek, valued at $300
Electric Guitar signed by all members of Rolling Stones, donated by Sports & More Auctions, valued at $1500
"Old Savannah" oil portrait by Melvin Clark, donated by Melvin Clark, valued at $350
3 Day Carnival Cruise to Nassau, donated by Sports & More Auctions, valued at $350
2 Night Trip to your choice of Vegas, LA, or FL, donated by Sports & More Auctions, valued at $250
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED THESE ITEMS & ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO BID ON THEM!
We also raised money through raffle baskets that were donated! Check out all the fabulous baskets we had!
Anti-Stress Basket including $100 gift certificate, Biofreeze, Hydrate Body Lotion, Soft Scrub, and Anti-Stress Candle; donated by Kendall Kyanko, valued at $150
Vera Basket including a Vera Bradley diaper bag, three Vera print silk scarves, Vera Bradley t-shirt; donated by Robbin Barringer, valued at $100
Dinner Basket inclucing gift certificate to Townhouse II for 2 dinners, $25 gift card to Branchview Tavern, and two $10 gift certificates to DePompa's; donated by these restaurants, valued at $65
Solace Spa gift certificate for $75; donated by Solace Spa, valued at $75
Beauty Basket including 5 Tanning sessions and one haircut; donated by Mystic Sun, valued at $38
Party Basket including a gift certificate for a Sugar &Spice cake, party decorations; donated by Sugar & Spice, valued at $50
Bridal Basket including a $100 gift certificate to Hope's Bridal Boutique, a bridal garter, "Grandmother" embroidered handkerchief, jewelry set; donated by Hope's Bridal, valued at $150
Frame Set including 3 5x5 custom hand painted frames; donated by Irresistible Portraits, valued at $150
Bow Wow Basket including a $60 gift certificate to South Ridge Veterinary Hospital, MilkBone Dog Toy, Dog Treats, Dog Napkins, and Dog Dish; donated by South Ridge Veterinary Hospital, valued at $70
Focused on a Cure Basket including t-shirt and beaded bracelets; donated by Focused on a Cure, valued at $25
Hair Care Basket including Kenra Gift Bag, Kenra Volume Spray, Kenra Root Lifting Spray, Gift Certificate for Shampoo, Cut, and Style by select stylists; donated by C.C. & Company Salon and Spa, valued at $65
Baby Boy Blue Basket including a bear security basket, wipey case, Fold n Go Diaper Kit, 4x6 Blue Frame, Travel Health Care Kit, 3 Bears Children's Book; donated by Ashley Pethel, valued at $50
Brighton items including a Brighton necklace, bracelet, and earrings; donated by Anne's Dress Shop, valued at $120
Mary Kay Forever Orchid Gift Set including perfume, lotion, sugar scrub; donated by Treva Motley, valued at $65
Pampering with Pink including Lancome Sample gift set, lip gloss, Renergie Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Microlift Intense Lifter Cream, Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream, Juicy Tubes Smoothie lip gloss, Mascara, Live Laugh Love 4x6 photo frame, vanilla cream candle; donated by Karen Goforth andRenda Ayscue, valued at $50
Bath & Body Twilight Woods set including body cream and body spray, chapped hand cream, nail file, pink ribbon scarf, black tote; donated by Renda Ayscue, valued at $75
Baby Basket including Lamb baby security blanket, Proverbs 31:28 silver mother's bracelet; donated by Payton's Closet, valued at $100
Pink Fru Fru Basket including a pink ribbon water bottle, pink ribbon latte wrap, pin, watch, chapstick, andle, bottle koozie, coasters, wine glass, silly bandz, tissues, "Our Mom has Cancer" book, key chains; donated by Audrey's Fru Fru and Sassy Boutique, valued at $325
Beach Basket including Avon Breast Cancer Tote, Spa Wrap, flip flops, pink ribbon purse hanger; donated by Jessica Barringer, valued at $45
Miche Bag with Shell; donated by Kathy Waters and Sherry Carawan, valued at $50
Survivor Basket including pink fleece blanket, set of towels, foot massager, scrapbook photo album, chicken soup for the soul book, Cucumber lotions, bath oil, and body wash, set of candles, cancer bandana, 3 wooden plaques - Love, Hope, and Believe, stationary, eye mask, Quote rub on for wall, flip flop coasters, mirror; donated by Cathy Ervin (survivor), valued at $175
Coffee/Tea Baskets including coffees, teas, breast cancer insulated cup, coffee mug, creamers, sweeteners, candy, gum, pen, pads, candle and much more; donated by Allison Creswell (survivor), valued at $75
The remainder of the night we danced and sang along with the Band of Oz! They know how to put on a show and we enjoyed every second of it. Most of the candids have Tara, Renda, or Melonie on a nearby mic singing their hearts out!
We also unveiled the 2010 Focused on a Cure survivor exhibit. We had 15 survivor stories to showcase. The metals are designed to feature one of the survivor's portraits by Irresistible Portraits as well as excerpts from their stories. We wish we had room to share every word of their stories!
The exhibit will travel to different locations, businesses, offices, and hospitals in the area. Stay tuned to the blog to see the upcoming dates and locations.
The exhibit is printed on metal, a product provided by H&H Color Lab. Irresistible Portraits has been a client of theirs for many years. The owners, Shirley and Wayne Haub, are passionate people who believing help causes such as ours. Although the Haubs were unable to attend, they flew Dan and his wife, Toni, all the way from Kansas City to join us! We appreciate your support year after year!
We did it! We pulled it off again! We raised $15,000, our goal for 2010! Does that mean we have to raise $20,000 next year? Guess so!
Now for the fun part - to see all the money raised put to work... to fight the disease! We have received grant applications from some organizations across NC that benefit breast cancer - detection, research, rehabilitation, etc. The grants will be judged by a panel of judges next Monday evening. After then final decisions are made, we'll be happy to announce the outcome! Stay tuned.....
Thank you to all our sponsors....
Band of Oz
Bella Bella Creations
Brother’s Tires
C.C. & Company Salon & Spa
Cabarrus Dance Academy
Chelish Moore Flowers
Clearly Carolina
Clifford Compton III, D.D.S.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Concord Printing
Dream Dinners - Kannapolis
Falls Jewelers
H&H Color Lab
Hurt & Associates
Irresistible Portraits
KA Studios
Lake Norman Plastic Surgery
NC Research Campus
Progressive Builders
Proofcast
Punchy’s Diner
Renda Welch, D.D.S.
State Farm Insurance -Matt Woodford, Agent
Sugar & Spice
The Breast Center at Stanly Regional Medical Center
