When it is truly important, Memphis and its surrounding communities rally for the cause. Take Breast Cancer Awareness, for example. In the midst of an admirable show of hands nationally, there are innumerable participants in this campaign on a local level across the country. Enjoy these highlights of the Greater Memphis area dressed in pink this year. Our Mid-South display in the battle against cancer, both on the front lines and behind the scenes, is inspiring and distinctive.
Collierville Town Hall in Pink
Collierville shows their support by painting the front lawn—a prominent message, and we think the town hall looks pretty in pink! collierville.com
Collierville Town Hall
“Ida Mildred,” the Pink Fire Truck
Driving pink fire trucks and dressed in pink turnouts (fire suits), the “Guardians of the Ribbon, Pink Heals Tour” is a group of firefighters whose purpose is to raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer. The Memphis/Mid-South chapter is based in Ellendale, Tennessee, and their truck is named “Ida Mildred.” They tour the area attending special events and community gatherings, and this is all done on their own personal time. To see where Ida Mildred will be next, check out their 2013 calendar: www.facebook.com/PinkHealsMemphisMidSouth.
Ida Mildred
The “Guardians of the Ribbon, Pink Heals Tour” is a group of firefighters whose purpose is to raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer.
The Blue Knights
The Blue Knights is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles. Members of the Tennessee chapter assembled for a Breast Cancer Awareness parade across Memphis in August 2013. See more images from this event and read about the Blue Knights here: www.blueknightstennessee1.org
The Blue Knights wear pink.
The Blue Knights on parade day, 2013
Rhodes College
The beautiful campus of Rhodes connects to the Greater Memphis community and Breast Cancer Awareness by dressing in pink on game day: www.rhodes.edu
Rhodes in pink
Oak Hall
Many local stores support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October with special sales and pink merchandise. For example, 100% of the sales of this limited-run Peter Millar shirt will go directly to the Komen Memphis Mid-South Affiliate. This offer is good for the month of October and is limited to 200 shirts, $115. Learn more about this Oak Hall / Komen Memphis MidSouth product here: www.komenmemphis.org
Wings Riders
This admirable group of friends gathers each year to ride 500 miles in five days from Memphis to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to raise awareness and money for the fight against Breast Cancer, specifically to fund the Wings Wellness Program and promote a healthy lifestyle for cancer survivors who have completed treatment. They are the Wings Foundation Riders. The annual event started three years ago with a casual conversation among a few biking friends, and it has grown into a much anticipated October event. This year’s event took place October 5 to 9, included 18 riders, and they raised over $100,000 for the Wings Cancer Foundation: www.wingscancerfoundation.org
The Wings riders 2013 lined up in front of the Wings Cancer Foundation at the West Clinic. Yes, that is Ida Mildred behind them!
And they’re off!
Family and friends greet rider Keith Merriman at the finish line in Rosemary Beach, Florida.
Finish line 2013! They made it, 500 miles from Memphis to Florida for the fight against cancer!
Graceland
You will see more than a pink Cadillac at Graceland this month. Elvis Presley’s entire mansion is glowing in a shade of pink in October. If you can’t stop by, see this National Historic Landmark in pink on their live GracelandCam when the sun goes down: www.elvis.com
Graceland glowing in pink
Local Author
Pat McRee is a three-time, 20-year cancer survivor and has served as Director of the Flying Colors Cancer Network for 17 years. Pat is also the author of two Support to Go Unbooks for survivors. For more information about Flying Colors and Pat’s book, visit www.flyingcolors.org.
The Big Game
These local elementary age football players may be small in size, but they are sending a big message. While competing against each for a “W” this afternoon, they are all on the same team for cancer awareness in their pink socks and shoelaces.
Making Strides at the Cancer Survivors Park
The Cancer Survivor’s Park is a concept that was funded by a grant from the R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation and is intended to encourage, inspire and celebrate survivorship. The 13th Annual Making Strides Memphis 5K will take place at the park on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. See more images of Memphis’ Cancer Survivors Park: www.facebook.com/CancerSurvivorPark.
The Cancer Survivors Park is located at Perkins Extd. and Southern Ave.
Local Chefs
Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, two of Memphis’ favorite (and famous!) chefs, have been busy supporting Breast Cancer Awareness with their culinary talents—from an elegant seated dinner for the Wings Cancer Foundation Riders to a fundraiser for the Flying Colors Cancer Network, the fifth annual “Hair-Raising Event.” Keep up with these two philanthropic chefs at either the Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen (andrewmichaelitaliankitchen.com) or Hog & Hominy (www.hogandhominy.com).
Andy Ticer and staff putting the finishing touches on the first course at a Wings Foundation Dinner.
The Wings Foundation dinner took place at the home of one of the Wings Riders.
All in attendance at the Wings event joined in a prayer for people touched by cancer.
Race for the Cure, Memphis
The culmination of Breast Cancer Awareness month is, of course, the Race for the Cure. Visit the Susan G. Komen Memphis Mid-South affiliate online to read about the innumerable businesses and individuals who have given local support throughout the year to this pivotal organization. This year’s event includes a celebration on October 17, and the Race will be on October 26. Susan G. Komen Memphis Mid-South website: www.komenmemphis.org.
Kiss this, Cancer!
Memphis is brimming with local support for Breast Cancer Awareness. This tour of Memphis in Pink gives us yet another reason to be proud of our city’s creativity, resourcefulness, strength and sense of community. I think the Wings Cancer Foundation Riders sum up Memphis’ opinion about cancer with the words printed on the back side of their uniforms. Zoom in on the picture below:
Zoom in … we couldn’t have said it any better!
