A rainy evening dampened the crowd during Paint the Town Pink to benefit Sister & Sister, but couldn’t touch the spirit of the event, Oct. 17 in downtown Clarkston.
Festivities filled downtown businesses as visitors enjoyed pink themed sales, drinks, snack and treats.
During the Ladies Night Out downtown stroll, businesses collected donations in jars to be donated to Sister & Sister, a McLaren Foundation that provides free mammograms to uninsured and low income women who otherwise could not afford them.
October is breast cancer awareness month. According to McLaren, 7,000 Michigan women will be diagnosed with breast cancer with 96 percent of cases being found in women over 40. Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer in women in the United States, and among the second deadliest form of cancer next to lung cancer.
Early detection of the cancer can lead to a 98 percent survival rate. While Caucasian women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, minorities such as African-American women and Hispanic women are more likely to dies from the illness.
‘I came here to support the cause because my sister is a breast cancer survivor,? said Clarkston resident and Paint the Town Pink attendee Lindy Hartwig.
Donna Bullard, president of Clarkston Brandon Credit Union said she is always willing to support good causes.
‘I just love the downtown events,? said Bullard. ‘I wouldn’t miss it even in the rain.?
Teresa Rogers creator and executive director of Sister & Sister attended the activities and thanked the community for participating.
Since it was created in 2007, the foundation has provided more than 3,000 mammograms. During those screenings 50 cases of breast cancer were discovered.
Events like Paint the Town Pink as well as Sister & Sister’s Annual Fashion and Beauty Extravaganza fundraiser and yearly Block Walk help keep the foundation afloat.
Qualifications for a free mammogram include being a resident of Oakland County, being uninsured or under-served, 40 years of age or older, being under 40 years-old with a family history of breast cancer and being under 40 years old with a physician referral to get a mammogram.
To contact McLaren Oakland Foundation call 248-338-5385. For more information visit www.mclaren.org.