CLEARLAKE–Team Pink Ambition is calling on the support of the community to help in the fight against breast cancer. Five ambitious ladies have joined forces to raise money for participation in a three-day walk in benefit of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.
Clearlake residents Shelly Key, Becky Wheeler, Ashley Hensen, DeAnne Dodd and her daughter Kaitlin Dodd are trying raise $2200 apiece for participation in the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit walk. The walk, which encompasses 60 miles, will take place Sept. 5 through 7 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Team Pink Ambition has little more than four months to raise a total of $11,000. The team is depending on the generosity of the community to help raise the funds, which will go directly to breast cancer programs.
“We are focusing all of our efforts on Clearlake and we really want to see what our little town can do,” Key said.
Day”s Gym in Lower Lake is supporting the team by providing six months” free membership for the ladies to train and get in shape for the event. Konoctees has also shown support with free printing on the team”s pink ribbon shirts.
Several local businesses are providing donation collection sites as well. Team Pink Ambition”s clear collection boxes can be found at Lake County Fire Protection District Office, Kathie”s Inn, Wild About Books, Lake Parts, Day”s Gym, Main Street Bar & Grill and Four Corners Builders Supply. Dr. Elizares” optometry office on Old Highway 53 in Clearlake is also accepting donations, which are tax deductible. Riviera Foods also has a collection box.
In addition, waitresses at Main Street Bar & Grill have agreed to set aside a day in which they will contribute all their tips to the team. (Date to be announced.)
Team member Wheeler said that breast cancer has affected several people in her family and she wanted to do something positive to help in the fight. “I wasn”t doing anything but working and I wanted to do something bigger than me,” she said. “Since beginning, it”s really given me the opportunity to find out how many people this actually touches.”
Key said participation in the endeavor has increased her awareness as well. “One thing that stood out for me was one lady I met said she didn”t have any money to get to her treatments and this foundation funded her transportation,” Key recalled. “It really made me realize how important it is to spread breast cancer awareness and support those organizations that direct fund to treatment and research.”
Team Pink Ambition will be joining the Lower Lake Daze Parade, Memorial weekend in Lower Lake. Following the parade, the team will be hosting a vendor booth with homemade baked goods and various products related to breast cancer awareness such as pink ribbons and bracelets.
Team Pink Ambition has established a bank account at Bank of the West, where contributions can be made directly; reference account No. 166191585. Contributions can also be made online at http://www.the3day.org; choose “Pink Ambition” to donate to the local team.
Key is looking at the possibility of organizing a charity softball tournament during the summer with half the proceeds to go to the winning team and half to Team Pink Ambition. Anyone who may want to participate is encouraged to call Key at 277-7772.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
