The third “Pink With A Passion” Walk will be held Saturday, Apr. 20 at the Warren County Recreation Complex on U.S. 158 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Organizers Amena Wilson and Elaine Tunstall-Smith invite the community to come out to the event to celebrate cancer survivors and to support others who may be facing their own battles with the disease.
When Wilson faced her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, she wanted to do something positive to show her appreciation for the support she had received – a way to embrace the “pay it forward” attitude.
So she organized a walk. Now, in year three, Wilson and others have joined forces to create a day filled with healthy activities, food trucks, music and more – even a mammogram bus that will offer free mammograms.
“We are a breast cancer organization, but we serve all types of cancer,” Wilson said. This year’s theme is “We’re Stronger Together and Better In Unity.”
“We’re looking forward to joining the community…trying to (boost) awareness for healthy living,” said Tunstall-Smith. “It’s our way of giving back.”
Tunstall-Smith said she and Wilson have been friends and classmates, so she was quick to volunteer when Pink With A Passion was formed. “I felt so fulfilled,” she said, of that volunteer experience, “I felt like I was doing something for the community, my church, my God.” That’s when she jumped in with both feet.
Pink With A Passion “is about people and how we can be of assistance to people in a medical crisis,” Tunstall-Smith continued.
Wilson said the organization will make a $2,000 donation to Maria Parham Health’s Cancer Center, which will, in turn, share with cancer patients who need help to pay for gas to get to treatments, medicine and more while they are receiving care.
The reason for the event is a serious one – cancer and its effects on families and caregivers – but Saturday’s walk will provide a chance for celebration and community fellowship as well.
Tunstall-Smith said she hoped to see a good turnout to the event – bring your lawn chairs and expect to have an enjoyable day among friends and supporters.
Pink With A Passion has developed a reputation for being a support system for cancer patients, who need only to call on one of the volunteers if they need help with anything from getting a prosthesis to a ride to the doctor, Tunstall-Smith said – any type of assistance “to let them feel they are not in the battle by themselves.”
Come for the camaraderie, come for the information, come for the exercise by taking a few laps around the track or come for the giveaways, Wilson said. Just come out to show support for those who are battling cancer themselves, or who are caring for a loved one with cancer.
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