THINK PINK - DPA leads campaign to raise cancer awareness and relief funds during October
Friday, October 1, 2010
Greg Moses Community Life Editor
While October is traditionally a time when people start thinking of fall colors - browns, oranges, reds and yellows - The Daily Post-Athenian wants people in McMinn and Meigs counties to consider a color on the opposite side of the spectrum: Pink.
Throughout October, The DPA in partnership with Athens Regional Medical Center are leading their first-ever Think Pink campaign as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Think Pink Campaign consists of:
• Printed Luminaries
• Luncheon on Tuesday Oct. 26
• Booths at area events reminding people to "Think Pink"
• Walk-A-Thon
• A newspaper special section focusing on Breast Cancer Awareness
• A Think Pink Business of the Day Ad with photograph
• "Tell Us Your Survivor Story" online submission form
• Think Pink T-shirts
• The Think Pink logo will appear in every edition of The DPA
Through these numerous events and promotions, The DPA plans to raise funds to benefit the McMinn Area Cancer Relief Fund (MACRF), a program which provides support to people in McMinn and Meigs counties who are actively receiving cancer treatment - either chemotherapy or radiation - with expenses not covered by insurance, such as medication co-payments, utility bills, travel to treatment centers and even groceries.
"One hundred percent of all MACRF's donated funds go to local cancer patients," said Connie Woodcock, president of MACRF, "and with the need continuing to rise in this area, we're appreciative of the support of The DPA and all of those businesses and individuals in the area who pitch in. Every little bit goes a long way to help those who are fighting cancer."
For breast cancer alone, Woodcock said the average is three to five patients per week - and that's just in the McMinn Surgical Group office where she is employed.
"We see cancer every day in some form," she said. "Many people are affected by it in some way."
Started in 2000, MACRF has donated nearly $200,000 to well over 1,000 people in the area.
"The need has grown constantly since we started," Woodcock said.
Following is an explanation of some of the initiatives planned to raise funds for MACRF:
Printed Luminaries
The luminaries, allow friends and family of cancer victims to show their support and love by placing a note in honor or memory of that person who has fought or is currently fighting any form of cancer. The luminary ads will be $10 apiece, and the entire $10 will go to MACRF. They will be printed in the paper throughout the month of October.
"Our luminaries are not just about breast cancer but all forms of cancer," said DPA General Manager Rhonda Whaley. "We want to generate awareness and help those who are battling cancer every day."
Luminaries can be purchased by bringing in the form in the newspaper (in today's paper on page A6), by coming into The DPA offices at 320 South Jackson Street in Athens, by completing the form online at www.dailypostathenian.com, or by stopping by one of our booths at area festivals this month.
Luncheon
Robin Wilhoit, an anchor for WBIR Channel 10, will be the keynote speaker during a luncheon hosted by The DPA on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Wilhoit is a spokesperson and avid supporter of WBIR's "Buddy Check" program, which encourages women to do regular self-examinations for breast cancer. More information regarding the luncheon will be available soon.
A portion of the proceeds from the luncheon will benefit MACRF.
Booths at Area Events
Booths will be set up this weekend at the Etowah Arts and Crafts Festival and next Saturday, Oct. 9, at Pumpkintown in Athens where luminaries can be purchased along with "Think Pink" T-shirts.
Walk-A-Thon
Employees of The DPA will be hosting their own walk-a-thon during Pumpkintown to raise money for MACRF through sponsorships.
"We're going to give those funds to MACRF in honor of our managing editor, Richard Edwards, who is currently fighting his own battle with cancer," Whaley pointed out.
Special Section
The DPA will be printing a 16-page tabloid special section, sponsored by Athens Regional Medical Center, on Breast Cancer Awareness on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The section will feature local survivor stories, information on Athens Regional's Breast Center, as well as health tips on issues related to cancer.
Think Pink Business of the Day
To keep awareness in the paper every day, The DPA is asking local businesses to be our "Think Pink Business of the Day." "We will come and take a photo of a company's employees and feature them in this ad," said Whaley. "We hope to have a different business for every day in October."
There is a charge for businesses to be the "Think Pink Business of the Day," but once again...a portion of the proceeds are going to the MCARF. The minimum goal The DPA hopes to raise is $2,000 within the month of October. However, Whaley said with everyone's help, it should be an easy goal to surpass.
Tell Us Your Survivor Story
"We will also have a form on our Web site where people can submit their own stories of cancer survival that we want to print in The DPA throughout October," Whaley said. "These are important stories because they not only tell of survival, but also give hope to others facing the same difficult journey." The form is on The DPA's Web site at http://www.dailypostathenian.com/dynamic/Special/ThinkPink
T-Shirts
A special t-shirt promoting "Think Pink" has been produced by The Daily Post-Athenian. These t-shirts are $10 - and the profits will benefit MACRF. The t-shirts will be available at our booths at area festivals and at The DPA.
Think Pink Logo
Our "Think Pink" logo will appear every day in The DPA in October.
"I don't think anyone reading The DPA throughout October is going to forget to think pink," Whaley said.
The DPA is working really hard to make this campaign a success, she added.
"We're encouraging everyone to help us support this important cause, because together we can make a difference," Whaley said. For more information, keep reading The DPA throughout October and visit www.dailypostathenian.com
E-mail: greg.moses@dailypostathenian.com