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Paint the Town Pink

Campaign Stresses Importance of Annual Health Screenings, Pandemic Notwithstanding

Along with diabetes, Oklahoma ranks among states with the highest cancer rates in this country. An estimated 20,530 new cancer cases are projected to be diagnosed in Oklahoma in 2020. Of those diagnoses, approximately 3,130 will be breast cancer—the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States.

To help address this situation locally, the Norman Regional Health Foundation in 2018 launched its Paint the Town Pink campaign as a way of increasing awareness about the importance of mammogram screenings and overall breast health.

“The campaign centers around promoting screenings for all types of cancer; stressing the importance of annual checkups; and knowing your risk factors and family history,” said Erin Barnhart, executive director of the Foundation, which supports the Norman Regional Health System in several ways, including enhancing the patient experience through medical equipment purchases and healer training and education.

“Due to COVID-19, many people are hesitant to visit a health care provider and/or facility,” noted Dr. Namali Pierson, an oncologist associated with Norman Regional Hospital. “With cancer, early detection is the key, and your health care provider wants to begin this journey earlier rather than later. Oklahoma ranks 40th across the United States in women over the age of 45 who are up-to-date on their mammogram and we rank 46th in the U.S. for Oklahomans over the age of 50 who are up-to-date with their colorectal cancer screenings. Don’t wait; schedule your health screenings now.”

Barnhart noted that the Paint the Town Pink concept was created by Lynn Weber, the Foundation’s board chair at the time, and that the campaign was “created in three weeks and rolled out through social media and internally at Norman Regional. Personalized pink utility flags were sold in honor or memory of a loved one who had breast cancer. These flags were displayed at Norman Regional’s three main campuses throughout the month of October.”

 In 2019, a Paint the Town Pink committee was formed from interested community members and NRHS healers. A comprehensive campaign was established to include corporate partnerships, community outreach and events.

“Personalized white flags were added to the pink flag display so all cancer patients could be honored or memorialized,” Barnhart said. “Outreach events included Norman’s Friday Night Art Walk, the Norman Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Luncheon and numerous civic presentations. Businesses turned Norman pink with light displays and yard signs. Oklahoma Electric Cooperative and Embassy Suites turned a pink hue, as well as the lights over Main Street. A partnership with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma was established, and an oversized pink bra was created to adorn the museum’s front lawn by the Botero sculpture.”

More than $16,000 was raised last year from Paint the Town Pink. Proceeds were used to purchase patient comforts such as a blanket warmer and lotion (to help alleviate skin irritation due to radiation) for NRHS Cancer Management, as well as digital thermometers and vital sign machines for the Oncology Clinic.

The fundraising goal for the 2020 Paint the Town Pink was $20,000 to support cancer patients and oncology related services at Norman Regional Health System. Due to COVID-19 events and outreach were canceled; however, the cities of Norman and Moore publicized the campaign by adorning the downtown areas as well as Rotary, Griffin and Brookhaven parks in pink ribbons. Pink lights were placed at Legacy Park, OEC, Embassy Suites, Norman Regional Healthplex, Porter and Moore campuses, as well the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Norman Parks & Recreation, the Norman and Moore police departments, the Cleveland County Sherriff Department and McClain/Grady County EMS participated by adding pink magnets to their vehicles in partnership with landers Auto Group and NRHF.  

On Oct. 20, the Foundation hosted “Pink Out Day,” which encouraged the surrounding communities to wear pink to work, school and play. Also, pink shoelaces, garden flags, T-shirts and special bracelets were sold in support of the campaign.

“We received Paint the Town Pink proclamations from the cities of Norman, Moore and Noble,” Barnhart said, noting that Paint the Town Pink 2020 was dedicated to the memory of long-standing NRHF board of director Randy Laffoon.

Paint the Town Pink donations are accepted throughout the year to support cancer care. Contributions may be made at NRHFoundation.org and noting Cancer Care or Paint the Town Pink.

To schedule a mammogram, call 307.2290. “This annual screening can potentially save your life. Do not put your health on hold,” Barnhart stressed.

About the Norman Regional Health Foundation

The Norman Regional Health Foundation awards educational scholarships to those in a health care-related field and funds community health and wellness initiatives. The Foundation is governed by a maximum 30-member board of directors. The directors are community leaders who are advocates for excellence in healthcare.

In addition to coordinating the Paint the Town Pink campaign, the Foundation has annually supported the Cancer Resource Center by purchasing bras and prostheses for mastectomy patients and head coverings for cancer patients. These items are provided on a complimentary basis to patients making an appointment through the Cancer Resource Center located at Norman Regional Health System on Porter.

The Personal Side

[Editor’s Note: Among our community’s staunchest supporters of Norman Regional Health Foundation’s Paint the Town Pink campaign are Steven and Stella Pavick. Their powerful story follows.]

Primarily it's on my wife's behalf that I am involved with this effort. This cause was an easy one for our company (Minick Materials) to get behind, too. Our co-owner Teresa Minick had recently passed away from cancer.

In 2018 my wife, Stella, experienced nothing more than a pain with immediate swelling in her left breast. Within 24 hours the pain subsided and the swelling went down. We thought she just pulled a muscle at the gym. After a few months of this regular occurrence, an ultrasound was done, eventually an MRI, too. The MRI showed a 4" mass. Initially it was NOT thought to be breast cancer because sharp pains and swelling are not common in early stages of breast cancer.  And since she had been getting regular mammograms anyway, this was never the first diagnosis. But to be safe, a biopsy was done anyway. The cells were determined to have a cancerous trait!

In 2019, Stella made the decision to have a mastectomy. Four lymph nodes were removed. The operation went well. Thank the Lord the lymph nodes were later found to be normal and every checkup since has gone well. But it was during her recovery phase when attending breast cancer survivor meetings that she was introduced to the Paint the Town Pink campaign.

So, in Stella's case, her negative results meant she was fortunate enough not to require any chemotherapy.  It meant her survival chances were much better than most, too. But we both realize there are others in a similar situation that are not so lucky. The pain they endure with chemotherapy and the complications that come with it. Chemotherapy is never 100% successful, either. My mother was one of those diagnosed with cancer but whose chemotherapy was unsuccessful. She passed back in 2005. 

With all this in mind, we became involved in this particular effort. Not only for Stella's sake, for what she's been through, but for those who experienced the same diagnosis, the additional pain and suffering, and for those who are no longer here with us today, professionally and personally. This has been part of our life for some time. It just became more personal in 2018.

With that in mind we will continue to be lifelong supporters of the Paint the Town Pink effort.

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