There are so many mixed emotions when October rolls around...
Pinktober. So many pink ribbons. So many images of women with boobs, without boobs, scars, mammogram reminders, women on TV talking about their journey through cancer. Some celebrity comes forward about how she's been battling silently but now is ready to speak out. Companies trying to make this topic light and fun: boob candles, bags, necklaces, everything. There are boob cartoons, "these boobs tried to kill me" TV shirts and people talking about "chopping off" parts of their body. The thing is, sometimes it doesn't hurt. Other times, these things feel like a swirl of insensitive messages.
PTSD. Every October, As a breast cancer survivor, I see all of the pink ribbons and hear so many stories. So many of them are so inspirational and so many are so scary and sad. I hear them and want to feel stronger, but most times I feel worse. I question how I'm still here and why some women are taken so soon. I rewind 15 years to a time where I was scared for my life, but also a time where I found who I really am.
It's all very confusing.
All in all, when I do take the time to look back and sit in the present. There is one thing I know for sure: I am thankful. I am thankful to my friends and family who lifted me up then, and am thankful for all of those who support Fighting Pretty's mission to help women battling cancer feel strong and beautiful now. Back in 2013, when Fighting Pretty was founded, I never could have imagined where we would be today or how much impact we would have all over the globe.
So when October comes, we always have a flood of activity at Fighting Pretty and though it's hard to face the pink ribbons in October sometimes, I am reminded I am not alone, this community is amazing and I am thankful to be surrounded by such strong, inspirational women. A huge thank you to all of those in our community around the USA who have made a HUGE impact this year by supporting the Fighting Pretty mission and changing lives!
Our fifth annual Beauty and Bubbles event was a success coast to coast!
Huge thank you to our Beauty and Bubbles hosts and sponsors: Frenchies Modern Nail Care, Luna Beauty Studio, Busty Lush, and Joyus! We were able to give so many women love and support this October with your help!
Annual community efforts surpass goals and even get news coverage!
Our most passionate fundraiser and newest board member, Carol Sopp, ran her annual fundraiser at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm, surpassing her goals and raising $15,000 with the help of her incredible family and friends. Plus, with support from amazing musicians Delta Spur and Anthony Gill!
Our amazing community ambassador in Rhode Island, Valerie De Costa, who spreads awarness and even made it on the news!
Partnerships across the USA encouraging women to stay active and support Fighting Pretty while doing it!
The fabulous and spunky team at Jazzercise - especially Lisa Ewers and Darci Hall - who run their annual Pink Out fundraiser every year, supporting hundreds of women battling cancer and having lots of fun doing it!
Rumble Boxing in Indiana hosted two donation classes for Fighting Pretty, (See if you can find our very own Corinne!) with support from Crumbl Cookies.
Chelsea Amato of Starcycle Portland offered a donation class for Fighting Pretty and even got some fabulous cookies as a fun treat!
WERQ in Virgina ran a donation class to raise awareness and get the class pumped to WERQ-it for Fighting Pretty!
Ziss Fitness in NY hosted an event too!
School teams and police departments helped us spread awareness and funds in small towns throughout the USA!
To the West York High School Girls Soccer Team for selling pink soccer balls and collecting donations at their soccer game in October!
Organizations in New Jersey vounteered to help spread the mission and raise funds to empower women Fighting Pretty - all in honor of the ones they love and lost.
- Girls "Crunch" Softball team raised over $1200!
- Boys and Girls Club of Wayne ran a fundraiser to support us!
- The Pequannock Township Police Department and Upper Saddle River PBA for supporting Fighting Pretty by selling pink badges to raise funds!
A sisterhood of cancer organizations bound together for a great impact!
Our friends at the American Cancer Society, Breast Friends and Pink Lemonade Project invited us to join the Making Strides Run, Support the Girls Run, Girlsfriends Run and Luncheon where we networked, met incredible women and even sold some of our fun merchandise!
Restaurants, clothing stores and more helped us spread our mission and fund our programs!
The teams at River Pig Portland, River Pig Bend, Besaws and Solo Club offered a fun Pink Drink where the proceeds support Fighting Pretty. Plus, ELLA JAYMS, Divi, Lyseé, Force of Nature, Le Mini Macaron, J.McLaughlin and SkinbyLovely, all had promotions helping to support our programs and our friends from Sass at Home run an annual fundraiser in loving memory of a woman who was truly Fighting Pretty, Megan Clark.
Thank you to everyone in our community. We wouldn't be here without you.
Keep supporting Fighting Pretty by checking out our Giving Tuesday Campaign! We have a goal to help 10,000 women battling cancer feel strong and beautiful! Help us raise $10,000 on Giving Tuesday to support this goal.