The Pink Ribbon Society hosted its 20th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Celebration on Sept 26 at Avalon Manor Banquet Center in Merrillville.
The Pink Ribbon Society supports the men and women of Lake, Porter, Jasper, and Newton counties whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. Every year, the organization invites local businesses and community members to show support for survivors and current cancer patients. As one of the biggest events of the year, Pink Ribbon Society is able to give back to the community through fundraising and donations. To date, the Pink Ribbon Society has returned over $650,000 to both individuals and organizations in Northwest Indiana.
“Pink Ribbon Society is awesome because the money stays in Indiana,” said Ruth Bilbro, community advocate. “The funding stays in our four counties and helps a lot of needy women who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The funds raised by the Pink Ribbon Society and local organizations help patients pay for various needs throughout the process of getting treatment for breast cancer.
“We donate money to help pay for mammograms,” said Bilbro. “The money also helps them to get wigs. We give to local hospitals for women who come out of surgery to get sculpting pockets, which is a little pocket to keep their tubing in for draining post-surgery. This way they can walk around and have a little bit of freedom after their surgery.”
Many local businesses support the event. Representatives from the businesses and community are invited to be celebrity servers who serve tables throughout the afternoon. Kurt Meyer, Vice President of Human Resources for Methodist Hospitals, was just one of many returning celebrity servers.
“I've been to these events before in my hometown of South Bend, Indiana,” said Meyer. “It's a wonderful cause! You can't do enough for health, and that's what we're here for: to serve the community.”
Hosting events such as the Pink Ribbon Society Breast Cancer Awareness Tea is for more than just raising money.
“The impact on the community is huge,” said Meyer. “It's camaraderie and making people feel comfortable. It’s helping them emotionally with what they're going through because they identify with each other. It just shows ongoing support from everyone in the community. And for Methodist Hospitals, we work hard to be the best we can be for all women's health. We are proud to be part of this event.”
Dr. Bharat Barai, Oncologist Hematologist at Premier Oncology Hematology Associates, has also been a celebrity server for years.
“It's a good cause to help the women who suffer from breast cancer and also to try to prevent it,” said Dr. Barai. “This event is a way of trying to encourage and saying thank you to all those who go through treatment and to highlight prevention and education of breast cancer.”
Dr. Barai praises the Pink Ribbon Society for its efforts to grant more women access to medical care.
“The majority of my patients do have either Medicare or Medicaid, but then there are some people who don't have insurance,” explained Dr. Barai. “The Pink Ribbon Society helps pay for mammograms for some of the people who don't have insurance. Even the Chicago Bears donate 500 mammograms to Methodist Hospitals for those women who cannot afford to have their mammogram or do not have the insurance to cover the treatment.”
Above all else, Dr. Barai commends the Pink Ribbon Society for shedding light on all of the options women have for treatment and prevention of breast cancer in Northwest Indiana.
“This is a good event to bring awareness,” said Dr. Barai. “The money that is generated goes towards both diagnosis as well as treatment of breast cancer for patients who cannot afford it. For those women who do not have the means or insurance to pay for mammograms, please contact either the Pink Ribbon Society or Methodist Hospitals. No woman should go without a mammogram.”
Hosting an annual event to raise funds and awareness is paramount for community outreach. Diana Newell, a community member, knows all too well how important it is for one’s health to be informed.
“Last year was my first year at the event,” said Newell. “At the time, I did not have cancer. Recently, I got news that I did have cancer and wanted to attend today to support the group.”
Echoing Meyer and Dr. Barai’s statements, Newell notes the importance of having a community behind oneself for support during difficult times.
“This event impacts the community tremendously,” said Newell. “They know we're behind them. They know that we're here.”
Founder and President of the Pink Ribbon Society Ann Peters emphasizes the need for community support, especially after having to cancel the event last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Breast cancer doesn’t go away,” said Peters. “Our program has to keep going, and we have to be here to help the people even during a pandemic.”
Despite the pandemic, the organization was able to raise $30,000 last year through an SOS (Save Our Society) fundraiser and matching fundraiser with McColly Charities.
Unfortunately, the organization lost a supporter close to its heart to COVID-19, Dorothy M. Gillespie. To honor her efforts in the fight against breast cancer, the Pink Ribbon Society unveiled for the first time the Dorothy Marie Gillespie Humanitarian Award in loving memory of Gillespie.
“We don't meet people by accident,” said Peters. “They are meant to cross paths for a season, a reason, or a lifetime, and I have met so many awesome men and women over these last years. I am so grateful that all of you have crossed my path.”
Many of the men, women, and families at the event have shared the same path toward fighting breast cancer, and in honoring the life of Gillespie, the Pink Ribbon Society leaves a note of advice that Gillespie often gave to others: “Be encouraged by others who have walked in your shoes.”
To follow fundraising opportunities or to order a 2022 Breast Cancer Survivors’ Calendar, visit: http://pinkribbonsociety.org/