Mood:
celebratoryAnyone who knows me (and even some who don't) know that I hardly ever wear pink! But I'm making an exception this once and I put down my camera and took to the keyboard today because I hope you'll help me out, come and share lunch and a few laughs with me, and maybe even get in the pink, too!
The Pink Tie Friends Organization helps women (and men) battling breast cancer who are underinsured or without health insurance. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to choose between food for your family or medications and treatment that mean the difference between life and death.
Sadly, that's precisely the choice many in our area have to make. It might be your neighbor, the cashier at the grocery store, or the waitress who serves your latte with a smile every morning. But for the grace of God, it might even be you.
In addition to hosting fundraising luncheons and awesome cultural, theatrical performances and golf events, the Pink Tie Friends also create an annual Pink Tie Calendar to celebrate breast cancer survivors and help raise awareness, funds and emotional support for those who need it most right now.
It's an organization that's especially close to my heart because cancer stole my mom from me far too soon, and breast cancer has tried very hard to rob me of some of my closest friends.
This year, I have the extreme honor of being selected as the photographer for the Pink Tie Calendar, which features survivors participating in their passions; celebrating the hobbies and milestones they missed while battling for their lives and enduring the ravages of radiation and chemotherapy.
After being recommended to the Pink Tie committee by my dear friend and cancer survivor, Aileen Pruitt, I took the assignment in memory of my mom, who lost a long, hard battle to cancer, and to celebrate the strong women I know who have battled breast cancer and are still fighting for their lives every day.
Virtually every one of the women (and man) I photographed told me that what got them through their illness was the constant love and support from family and friends, and focusing on their passions. I hope I've been able to capture the passions and the strength I witnessed through the lens while preparing the pages of the 2008 Pink Tie Calendar.
Today I am asking you to please mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept. 22 - the date of the Pink Tie Luncheon to benefit the Pink Tie Friends.
The luncheon will be held at Club Med in Port St. Lucie. There will be laughter, lots of hugging, silent auction items available for purchase and, of course, plenty of pink - even on yours truly!
Bring a friend or two or three to come and join the party.
It will be a celebration of survival, of life, of friendship and passions and even though I don't normally wear pink, I'll be wearing it proudly on that day.
I hope you'll join me in supporting some of the strongest women (and men) I've had the privilege of knowing. Together we'll get to meet the 'models' that make up the 2008 Pink Tie Calendar and you can be one of the first to get your own copy to help celebrate all year long.
In fact, if you want to have your copy of the calendar autographed by the dozen brave, beautiful and amazing survivors and one very fortunate photographer who got to photograph them all, bring along your Sharpie and I'll make sure that happens, too.
To save your spot for this luncheon, please contact the Pink Tie Friends at (772) 785-8730.
As for me, I'm digging through the back of my closet right now to decide which pink tie to wear.
