For Rhonda Williams, life took a dramatic turn seven years ago when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Beating the disease, she said, is one of the factors in her desire to start her own nonprofit organization, and to celebrate with other survivors.
“It’s important to me because it’s a collaboration of breast-cancer survivors, patients and supporters to bring awareness about breast cancer,” said Williams, founder and chief executive officer of the Thriving and Surviving Breast Cancer Support Group, Inc. “Our main mission is to make sure nobody goes through a breast-cancer journey alone.”
Williams will be among those in attendance when Stockbridge paints the town pink this week as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Festivities will kick off Thursday with a Pretty Hat Luncheon from noon to 3 p.m., at the Merle Manders Conference Center, 111 Davis Road. The luncheon will feature entertainment, a fashion show and gift bags for those in attendance.
Also, a Love Walk is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m., to noon at Clark Park.
The luncheon, now in its third year in Stockbridge, will honor 300 breast cancer patients, survivors and caretakers. Registration for the walk is free and includes one T-shirt per person.
Organizers of the event are hopeful that at least 300 people will take part in the pink-themed luncheon.
Approximately 630 members are affiliated with Thriving and Surviving, one of several organizations expected to participate in Pretty in Pink. The nonprofit group, said Williams, meets in Piedmont Henry Hospital’s Education Building on the last Saturday of every other month.
In addition to celebrating the successes of survivors, said Williams, her group has worked to help those individuals in a variety of tangible ways.
“We’ve given out gas cards, paid utilities, provided food to their families during treatment, sat with them at appointments, purchased gift cards, and sent them flowers,” said Williams. “We pretty much try to meet the needs of whatever the patient is needing at the time.”
Conference Center Manager Cie Cie Wilson McGhee will oversee Pretty in Pink. She emphasized early detection as a key component in the fight against breast cancer and said she, along with Stockbridge Councilwoman Neat Robinson and other local breast-cancer survivors, put the event together for several reasons.
“I am a five-year breast cancer survivor myself, so I’m very passionate about serving the community and serving women who are undergoing treatment and going through the journey,” she said. “When I approached city officials about hosting this event for citizens of Stockbridge and abroad, they embraced the cause and made both the luncheon and the walk annual events that are totally free for the citizens. Another reason its important — it’s a chance for all of us to get together, share our stories and encourage one another.”
The luncheon is free for breast-cancer survivors, each of whom is allowed to bring one guest.
Several restaurants in Henry and Clayton counties are contributing to the event. Wilson McGhee said others are offering their support for the cause as well.
“We partner with Urban One Media Group to provide entertainment, and they also help select breast-cancer survivors to attend the luncheon,” she said. For more information, e-mail prettyinpink@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov.
