Survivors and supporters enjoyed the musical talents of Carla Burleson and the comedic stories of Bradley County native Karen Mills.
The event had special meaning to Burleson because her grandmother was having surgery for breast cancer that day.
Burleson said the cancer was caught in the early stage because her grandmother went for her yearly mammogram, despite assurances that at the age of 83 she no longer needed to worry about it.
Mills’ sister-in-law has also been recently diagnosed with cancer.
“She’s doing great and I applaud her and all the survivors,” Mills said.
Mills’ humor highlighted the funny elements of her everyday life.
“Funny follows me. It’s everywhere I turn,” Mills said.
Mills said she enjoyed the fact she could drive to the luncheon rather than flying.
“Air travel is exhausting, all the extra security you have to go through. And you know I understand why, but the rules don’t make sense. (Like) making everyone take off their shoes. I mean I think the guys should have to take off theirs, but no woman is going blow up her shoes,” Mills said.
To honor the survivors, Mills also wrote a a poem borrowing the title from this year’s theme “Dream Big.”
In the poem she said, “I hope you’ve had fun and your spirit is light, and don’t forget to laugh as we continue to fight. I believe there’ll be a time when we’ll all stop and think, breast cancer got whipped by the girls in pink.”
Also during the event, Ann McElrath was recognized as the “Volley for a Cure” Woman of the Year by Jan Moses of the MaryEllen Locher Foundation.
“I am just amazed at these ladies and what all they can do,” Moses said.
Moses said McElrath does much to make the annual campaign a success. This year McElrath is organizing the silent auction. Jim Bryant was also recognized for his efforts in promoting the various “Volley” events.
The Mary Ellen Locher Foundation was started in honor of MaryEllen Locher, who lost her battle with breast cancer.
“She always had a way of taking something bad in her life and turning it into something good,” Moses said.
The invasion of pink on the Lee campus culminates tonight at 7 with the volleyball game pitting the Lady Flames against the Brenau Lady Tigers.
