For the fifth year in a row, Billie Collins wants to paint Iola pink.
Collins is organizing Spirit of Pink fundraisers to benefit local breast cancer victims.
Proceeds go to an assortment of needs, Collins explained.
“We’ve helped many women,” she said. “We have purchased gas cards, food cards, given money to help make insurance deductibles, helped with living expenses, bought flowers for women in the hospital.”
Collins is selling Spirit of Pink shirts through Sept. 28. Shirts cost $12 apiece to be worn in and around Iola Oct. 12 — Spirit of Pink Day. The shirts will be worn at the Iola High School football game that night at Riverside Park against Chanute, or simply worn around town.
Cheerleaders in Iola and Marmaton Valley High School will wear Spirit of Pink shirts, as will cheerleaders from opposing schools that night. Humboldt High School has announced it will have its own shirts made.
Shirts can be ordered by calling or texting Collins at (913) 683-5132 or by email at ccdkc@hotmail.com. Others can find Collins’ Facebook page.
Last year’s endeavor brought in orders from 20 states, Collins said.
Residents of McLouth, Collins’ hometown, and several other communities will don pink that day, as will sports teams from Allen Community College.
“I want to ask everyone in Iola, whether they buy a T-shirt or not, just to wear pink, put pink in their business or in their yard,” Collins said. “Breast cancer has hit our community hard. In the last year alone, we have lost three remarkable women. Many more are still fighting the fight.”
Collins stressed all proceeds will be spent locally.
“We don’t make a lot on our T-shirt fundraiser, but it sure helps,” she said. “We don’t pay anyone for running the organization. We don’t use it for anything other than helping people with their needs during the trying time in their lives. We can’t do much, but we help where we can.
Humboldt’s shirt sales will benefit Relay For Life, which goes to the American Cancer Society. Residents in Moran will sell Spirit of Pink shirts. Proceeds will help residents in the Moran area.
The goal is visibility.
“If just one person sees your pink and is reminded to get her mammogram, and something is detected early, we have succeeded,” Collins said. “I can’t bring my friends back, but my goal is to help others help themselves.
“Breast cancer — cancer as a whole — sucks,” she concluded. “I can’t find a cure, but I will help in any way I can.”
