Event to help cancer group

An October banquet designed to raise breast cancer awareness will honor area survivors of the illness and bring a best-selling author to Martinez.

//

The Augusta Chronicle's second annual Think Pink Banquet will be held at 6 p.m., Oct. 13 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

"It's just such a relevant topic due to the fact that so many people are affected by it that it was important for us to raise awareness," said Lisa Dorn, marketing director for The Augusta Chronicle.

Author and filmmaker Kris Carr will speak at the event. On Valentine's Day in 2003, Carr was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer.

"I'm definitely going to talk about my journey with cancer," she said.

"I'm also going to talk about nutrition tips and lifestyle tips for living a healthier life with cancer."

After her diagnosis, Carr wrote and directed a documentary called Crazy Sexy Cancer , which chronicles her experiences of living with the disease. She also has written Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips and Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor: More Rebellion and Fire for Your Healing Journey.

"It woke me up," she said. "It shook me up, because there is no cure and no treatment.

"I had to make my own path, and ultimately, that path was a really healthy path that we all should take."

Through her speech, Carr said she hopes those in the crowd learn the importance of taking responsibility for their health.

"I don't want people to wake up in the situation that I woke up in," she said. "I want to do my best to help people stay out of that situation."

The banquet, sponsored by University Hospital's Breast Health Center, also will feature dinner catered by Tastefully Done at 7 p.m. The event includes a silent auction fundraiser with proceeds benefiting The Lydia Project, an Augusta-based organization that provides supportive notes, handmade totes and financial assistance to women facing cancer.

"The whole reason that we're putting it on is to raise awareness and raise money for The Lydia Project through the silent auction," Dorn said.

The 16 cancer survivors featured in The Chronicle's breast cancer survivor series are invited to attend the banquet as honored guests, she said.

The silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and guests can register to win a free pink golf cart, donated by Trinity Hospital of Augusta and The Chronicle .

"The funding is just so timely and helpful for us," said Amy Breitmann, co-founder of The Lydia Project and director of development. "We are growing tremendously and serving more and more women, not just in Augusta, but all over the country who are facing cancer."

In 2008, more than 3,900 women with cancer were served by the nonprofit organization with a workforce of about 500 volunteers.

"(The event) is going to make more people aware of the support that's available," Breitmann said.

Proceeds from some advertisements in The Chronicle's Oct. 1, edition, printed on pink paper, also will be donated to The Lydia Project, Dorn said.

Tickets cost $35 and need to be purchased by Friday.

To purchase tickets, visit www.augustashopping.com/pink or stop by the Columbia County News-Times office at 4272 Washington Road in Evans, or The Augusta Chronicle building, at 725 Broad St., in Augusta. For information, call (706) 828-3856.

If you go

What: Think Pink Banquet

When: Oct. 13; 6 p.m.

Where: Savannah Rapids Pavilion

Cost: $35; tables of 8 cost $250,

available at www.augustashopping/pink or at the offices of The Columbia County News-Times and he Augusta Chronicle

More: Call (706) 828-3856