Leechburg's Pink Day raises $27K for breast cancer research despite cancellation of major fundraiser

The founder of a Leechburg fundraiser for breast cancer research managed to raise nearly as much money this year as she did last year, despite having to cancel this year’s major fundraising event because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Leechburg’s Sherry Price, the founder and organizer of Pink Day, recently donated $27,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation — just $300 shy of what she donated to the organization last year.

The pandemic led Price to cancel this year’s Pink Day event, a daylong festival in Leechburg that has been held annually since 2011. It typically draws more than 5,000 people and has raised more than $110,000 over the years.

“In a year without an official Pink Day event, our nonprofit, Leechburg’s Pink Day, will be credited with and responsible for a $27,000 donation to BCRF,” Price said.

Price managed to raise $9,000 this year despite not having an event, and an anonymous donor triple-matched donations for the New York-based Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the largest private funder of metastatic breast cancer research in the world.

“I’m literally bouncing with happiness right now,” Price posted on her personal Pink Day Facebook page.

Sadia Zapp, director of communications at BCRF, praised Price’s work.

“Sherry’s support of the BCRF, particularly in the midst of this chaotic and challenging time, have never been more urgent,” Zapp said. “Like every sector of the world’s economy, breast cancer research has been deeply impacted by this pandemic, confronting diminished resources for scientific grants.”

Zapp said more than 168,000 people will be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer this year in the United States.

“Fundraisers like Sherry, who find new and creative ways to continue supporting research, are an example of tremendous resilience and hope,” Zapp said.

Price credited numerous Leechburg-area churches, businesses and countless area residents for their support.

“This couldn’t have even been possible without all of the amazing support from so many people,” Price said.

Linda Alworth, owner of Lingrow Farm in Gilpin, hosted a Lingrow Goes Pink fundraiser in September to support Price’s efforts. Price also sold Pink Day-themed T-shirts all year and hosted smaller events in place of Pink Day.

“I feel privileged I was able to help Sherry. She is so dedicated to the breast cancer awareness cause,” Alworth said. “We hope we can continue to support her efforts in the future.”

Price said she’s already making plans for next year’s event.

“We’ll be striving to make the 2021 event the biggest Pink Day ever,” Price said.