By Wayne Allen
October is commonly known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and locally Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) has scheduled a moth of activities called Paint it Pink aimed at raising awareness and money.
SOMC started selling Paint it Pink t-shirts on Oct. 1. The shirts are on sale at the SOMC Cancer Center and the SOMC Gift Gallery on the hospitals main campus. All precedes from the sale of Paint it Pink t-shirts benefit the SOMC Cancer Compassion Fund.
Typically thousands of shirts are sold every year. The shirts come in a variety of sizes are available for $10; Over the first day of sales between 6,500-7,000 t-shirts have been sold.
There will be a free Breast Cancer Screening at the SOMC Cancer Center, 1121 Kinneys Lane in Portsmouth on Oct. 13 from 4- 6 p.m. The screening will include free clinical breast exam. A free mammogram will be provided for women who are uninsured or under-insured. The mammograms are being provided through the Hands of Hop program funded by The Columbus Affiliate of Susan G. Komen in cooperation with SOMC. To register for the screening call 740-356-8234.
Cross Fit Alpha Pack. 1202 18th Street in Portsmouth has scheduled a Breast Cancer Awareness Workout of the Day (WOD) on Oct. 14. The WOD includes 28 air squats, representing the 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The workout also includes 13 burpees, representing the 1.3 million women worldwide that are diagnosed yearly with breast cancer. Twelve toes to bar, representing the 12 percent of women in the United States that will develop breast cancer among other things.
There are four WOD times 5:30 a.m., 8 a.m. 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. The event is open to anyone age 14 and over, LIFE Center or Alphapack membership is not required.
On Oct. 16 Paint it Pink organizers are asking the community to wear pink in solidarity. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. that day, there will be a Paint it Pink Wine tasting at the Party Connection with music by Casey Smith.
On Oct. 17 a Paint it Pink Race is scheduled. The event will include a 5k walk/run, 10k run, 10k bike and a one mile survivor walk.
Registration for the walk/run starts at 7:30 a.m. at the SOMC Life Center with a 9 a.m. start. the bike portion of the event starts at 8:30 a.m.
To register for the event visit www.tristate.com or complete a registration from and return to the SOMC Canter Center or SOMC Life Center. Participants will receive a free t-shirt will all proceeds from the event benefiting the SOMC Cancer Compassion Fund.
For more information about the race call 740-356-7650.
Also scheduled for Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. is a Paint it Pink Celebrity Softball Game at Branch Rickey Park.
The game will feature local celebrities going to bat for breast cancer awareness. As a part of the event, there will be a Breast cancer survivor ceremony and balloon release. Admission is free to this event.
For more information call 740-356-PINK or visit www.somc.org.
On October 18th there will be a Paint it Pink Pike County 5k/run, registration starts at 1 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Family Life Center in Waverly.
On October 21 at 3 p.m. Shawnee State University will host a Soccer Game Pink Put at the Shawnee State University Soccer field.
For more information about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month events call 740-356-PINK or visit www.somc.org.
Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT
