Pink Ribbon Events Deserve Support

It’s October and that means the ladies behind the Pink Ribbon Classic are at it again, raising thousands of dollars for breast cancer awareness and research.

The Pink Ribbon Classic series of fundraisers started in 1996 with a local golf tournament organized by residents Judy Johnson-Schoelkopf and Nancy Dofflemyer and is now led by a team of volunteers, most of whom have either had breast cancer or have been touched by it in a major way. Over the last decade, about $550,000 has been raised through the series of events, which seems to grow each year in number and popularity.

The Pink Ribbon Classic is well underway for this year. The October campaign was launched on Tuesday with a musical jam session at Seacrets, featuring area bands, a silent auction and raffles. A Red Hat Luncheon was held on Wednesday and a tennis tournament took place this morning in Bethany.

Here’s a look at the remaining events: Texas Hold ‘em, at the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company station on Keyser Point Road, Thursday, Oct. 11; Calendar Preview Party, Friday, Oct. 12, at the Blue Ox; 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Ocean City Health and Racquet Club; Golf Championship, Friday, Oct. 19, at Ocean City Golf Club; Pamper Yourself For Charity, Monday, Oct. 22, at A Perfect Face Day Spa; Card and Game Party, Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Phillips Crab House; and Ride (Spin), Friday, Oct. 26, at Ocean City Health and Racquet Club.

Do yourself a favor and attend what you can. They are not only fun but you also will be doing your part to make a difference. It’s a worthy cause and important to support the effort the organizers have put into the series of events.

It’s important to remember this is a volunteer effort, spearheaded largely by women who have professional careers to lead while also organizing these fundraisers. Anyone who has ever tried to organize a benefit understands all too well it’s a full-time job. There are many odds and ends to address and many people to ask for donations. That’s not an easy task, especially when you have been seeking money and/or donations from the same people for the last 10 years.

That’s the beauty of this campaign. It’s supported annually by the local business and residential community and that seems to serve as additional motivation for the committee that plans these events. Although all the incentive and inspiration to raise money comes from within for these ladies, the support they receive from all aspects of the community has to warm their hearts.

We applaud the Pink Ribbon Classic volunteers and encourage residents to attend the events they can and support the massive effort behind this worthy cause.

About The Author: Steven Green

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The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.