TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — In ways that range from furniture donations to fundraisers, people across Tallahassee are going the extra mile to observe breast cancer awareness despite COVID-19.
"For me it's therapy," said Kim Parr, an artist, and breast cancer survivor.
Kim Parr received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013. What started as a way for this survivor to strengthen her body during recovery grew into a profitable passion for decorating furniture.
"It was therapy for my arms after my mastectomy, keeping them moving and the exercise that I needed," Parr said. "For my mind, you get in a different place I guess, you hear, when you get in your zone."
This year, she's joining a national Paint it Pink movement with other artists who will paint furniture and donate the pieces to other breast cancer survivors and warriors.
"We just can't forget that there are people who are still dying, there are people that are still surviving, and there are people that are warriors that are struggling through it," said Parr.
If pink furniture isn't your thing maybe try a taste of pink food. Your favorite lemonade stand is raising awareness a well.
"It means more to us because our grandmother actually passed away from breast cancer, Grandma Gurlie," said Demetrius Murray, a co-owner of Gurlie's Lemonade. "She was such a beautiful lady and she always had lemonade ready at any given moment. And no matter the severity of whatever bad day you were having, when you drunk this lemonade, it fixed it."
They're also turning their famous fried Oreo's pink and donating a portion of the proceeds to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital's Cancer Foundation. So far they've raised more than $500 dollars.
Although the walk will be virtual this year, the annual Making Strides breast cancer fundraising walk is still on.
"This year you would put on your pink, you could go as far as putting on tutus and costumes, people always get really excited and dress up for the event especially our male counterparts," said Wendy Benedict, the manager of Community Development at the American Cancer Society. "So you are able to do that together in your community with your family and your friends. Film yourself taking a stroll or walk and supporting all our survivors and caregivers that are out there."
Participants can share their videos during the national social media broadcast on Sunday, October 18 using the hashtag #StridesLive.
Last year's walk in Cascades Park raised more than $100,000.
The American Cancer Society has already raised more than $36,000 this year and they look forward to exceeding their 2019 total with funds raised during Sunday's virtual walk.
Parr has about 30 names of people from both in and out of state hoping to receive her painted vanity.
We'll show you the finished product before the end of the month. You can also look forward to a special pink surprise from Gurlie's next week.
