Penny Lauricella, the executive director of the Pretty in Pink Foundation addressed local Rotary members at a recent breakfast meeting at the Devils Ridge Golf Club. Her goal as always is to promote awareness of Pretty in Pink and its mission: to serve those people diagnosed with breast cancer who have limited or no health insurance at all. Typically, these people do not qualify for government funded or assisted programs.

Penny reported that the foundation receives 15-20 calls per day from people needing help. Last July, when the foundation was highlighted on a Today Show morning broadcast, there were 1500 phone calls before 9 a.m. Obviously, the need is great.

Pretty in Pink is the only organization of its kind in North Carolina. With a multi-pronged approach to securing care for cancer patients, Pretty in Pink will negotiate for low-cost (typically one third full cost) services, ask surgeons to perform 5-6 free surgeries per year, solicit and receive free drugs from pharmaceutical companies, raise funds for patients’ COBRA payments, and ask businesses to participate in a “give-back program”. Through “give-back”, businesses can provide services in lieu of payments. These services may be quite diverse, and may include transportation to treatment appointments, tutors for the children who have been adversely affected by a parent’s cancer, mortgage counseling and job referrals.

In the last two years, 427 patients have been helped by Pretty in Pink. This number will grow quickly as several new “chapters” are established. Currently, Greenville, Wilmington, Ashville and Charlotte, North Carolina are all preparing to open satellite offices. The founding Raleigh office will offer guidance and assistance but as always, funds raised locally will serve local patients.

It is this local aspect of Pretty in Pink that first drew the attention of the Devils Ridge Ladies Golf Association in 2007. For each of the past four years, The LGA has sponsored a very successful charity golf tournament to benefit Pretty in Pink. This year’s tournament will be held on June 17 and has been sold out for over one month. Area businesses have been extremely generous in their support of the tournament and the LGA, under the leadership of tournament chairperson, Margi Ludwig, hopes to raise in excess of $25,000 this year. You can help.

There will be a pancake breakfast held at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar on North Main Street in Fuquay Varina on Saturday, June12 from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. A very generous portion of the ticket price will benefit Pretty in Pink. Tickets are $7 each and may be purchased at the door. Advance tickets are available from LGA members or from Cindy Ostman at 919-557-5228 or costman@embarqmail.com. This is an opportunity for community members who are not involved in the tournament to help a worthwhile local charity. Every dollar raised is spent immediately and locally. Come out and join us as we try to help local women in their fight against breast cancer.