Zandra Whaley, a “Volley for a Cure” Committee member and event spokesperson, said late last week proceeds had already surpassed $21,000 with more expected from additional T-shirt sales, as well as income from related activities — including the community-popular “Flamingo Flock” whose volunteer flockers last week were still catching up on “unflocked” yards due to rainy conditions the final few days of the “Volley” campaign.
“We have made over $2,000 on the flocking along!” Whaley said earlier in the week, and added, “Woohoo!”
Her exclamation took added meaning with confirmation that more work remained to be done in order to fulfill all pink-figurine orders.
“We still have about seven yards left to flock that we weren’t able to get done prior to event time (Breast Cancer Survivors Luncheon and Paint The Town Pink Day) due to the weather,” Whaley explained. “Those will be flocked in the coming days.”
Flockers were expected to wrap up their midnight raids late last week.
Whaley sounded a final reminder to “Pink Power” wannabes and those who believe in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout the year. “We still have T-shirts available,” she stressed. “And, sales have been so strong that we’re bringing out the old unsold T-shirts from last year.”
Shirt price is $5. Sizes might be limited, but the shade of pink remains the same — bright.
Area residents wishing to make a final purchase — whether for themselves, friends or loved ones — may contact The Plastic Surgery Clinic of Cleveland at 472-1996. Dr. Michael Hoops and his office staff of pink-powered ladies have sponsored the “Flamingo Flock” for the second year with an expanded army of figurines and additional volunteer flockers, and are coordinating final T-shirt sales.
Now an anxiously anticipated part of “Volley for a Cure” in only its second year, the “Flock” allows Cleveland area residents to have the front lawns of friends and loved ones adorned by pink flamingo figurines under the veil of darkness as a lighthearted prank. The birds are then removed late the following day by the same volunteers and deployed to their next landscaping assignment.
Following the Survivors Luncheon that featured the standup comedy of Bradley County native Karen Mills — a packed event that also raised proceeds through corporate sponsorships and ticket sales, and which featured the table-serving talents of the Lee University Lady Flames volleyball athletes — the “Volley” campaign marched into its final day.
Dubbed “Paint The Town Pink Day” by joint proclamation of Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis, the finale featured a series of fundraising — and fun — events, all occurring under the same roof at Paul Dana Walker Arena on the Lee University campus.
Events included a silent auction, a Pink Party, a high school exhibition volleyball match featuring local stars from Cleveland High, Bradley Central High, Walker Valley High and Ooltewah High schools, a “Pack the Stands Pink” stanza and then the grand finale, the volleyball match between the Lady Flames and the Brenau Lady Tigers.
The NAIA’s fourth-ranked Lady Flames eventually won the contest, 3-0.
Over the past four years, “Volley for a Cure” has raised more than $80,000 for secondary education scholarships to students whose parents have been impacted by breast cancer. The “Volley” funds are raised on behalf of the MaryEllen Locher Scholarship Foundation.
Several Lee University students — including at least three current ones — are “Volley” scholarship recipients. The newest was announced at the Lady Flames and Lady Tigers volleyball match. She is Emily Bishop, a senior at Bradley Central High School whose mother is a breast cancer survivor.
