ROBYN DOBSON
Oct 6, 2022
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and local organization Thriving Pink is hosting a sizable calendar of events to spread awareness and information about the impacts of breast cancer.
Thriving Pink is a nonprofit organization focused on helping those in Yolo County impacted by breast cancer by providing a network of support and resources. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among U.S. women, with one in eight women in the U.S. being diagnosed with breast cancer in the course of their lifetime. Men are affected, too, with 1% of diagnoses being male.
Throughout October, community members interested in supporting the organization or those a part of the breast cancer community can get involved in the various events, including a Zumbathon fundraiser, a Thriving Pink meet and greet and online workshops.
“This is a super busy month for us,” said Joni Rubin, board chair. “One because we are really trying to go around and get the word out about awareness about breast cancer but then also the support that is available to people who are diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Thriving Pink will be opening an office in Downtown Davis this month in order to offer workshops, support groups and easy access to materials.
“It will be a gathering place for our community,” Rubin emphasized.
The Woodland Police Officers’ Association, in partnership with the Woodland Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation, will be selling pink patches for the entire month. Patches are $10, with all proceeds going to Thriving Pink, and can be purchased from the Woodland Police Department lobby Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m.
The Davis Food Co-op and Davis ACE Hardware will be hosting a “Round-up at the Register” for the entire month of October. Customers are asked to round up their purchase to the next dollar, with the extra cents being donated to Thriving Pink.
Residents looking to combine their daily exercise while also supporting the organization can participate in three fundraisers being held around Davis. On Oct. 15, Balance Point Pilates Studio, located at 760 5th St., will be holding a “Pilates for Pink” fundraiser at 11:30 a.m. Those interested can sign up on the Balance Point Pilates’ website at https://balancepointpilatesdavis.com/.
On Oct. 22, Mirror Image Dance Studio, located at 2121 Second St., will be holding a Jazzercise fundraiser at their studio in Davis and online via Zoom. For details, visit www.facebook.com/jazzercisedavis/ or email jazzercisedavis@gmail.com. All fitness levels are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Finally, a Zumbathon fundraiser will be held both in-person and online at Get Fit Davis Sport, located at 1809 Picasso Ave., from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
“A big part of this is thanks to our local businesses sharing this information, so it is just blanketed across our community,” Rubin said.
Other events this month include:
-Woodland Luna Vista Rotary members and Thriving Pink volunteers will be visiting businesses in downtown Woodland and Davis to ask them to put up Thriving Pink window clings to show support for the breast cancer community.
– Circle Z will donate a percentage of their flower sales throughout the month. Flowers can be purchased at Lucy’s Cafe & Farm Pantry at 16850 Yolo Ave. in Esparto.
-Oct. 8: Thriving Pink will receive a financial grant from the Woodland Sunrise Rotary at the annual Salmon and Tri-tip Barbeque at the Yolo County Fairgrounds beginning at 6 p.m.
-Oct. 11: Yolo County Board of Supervisors Breast Cancer Awareness Month proclamation.
-Oct. 15: Thriving Pink meet and greet at Matchbook Winery, 12300 County Rd. in Zamora, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
-Oct. 15: Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Woodland Community College, 2300 E Gibson Rd., at 10 a.m.
-Oct. 18: Davis City Council Breast Cancer Awareness Month proclamation at 6:30 p.m. at the Davis city offices.
-Oct. 22: Morning walk with local dignitaries at 10 a.m. in Northstar Park, located at 3434 Anderson Rd. in Davis.
-Oct. 24: Zoom Workshop on integrative oncology from 7 to 8 p.m. Email Thrivingpink.org for the Zoom link.
Rubin emphasized that they are always looking for more people to join their organization as they look to expand their services.
“We are overwhelmingly a volunteer-run organization and people can sign up to volunteer,” Rubin highlighted. “There are a lot of different volunteer opportunities from making comfort bags to doing outreach to serving as peer mentors if people had breast cancer to helping us with translation in Spanish. We have a whole long list of ways people can volunteer.”
For more information and ways to support Thriving Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit https://www.thrivingpink.org/.