Albany Pink

How it all started

The Albany Pink Walk for Cancer began in 2012 by a committed group of employees of a local Albany business as a result of participation in similar events on behalf of their loved ones. They quickly realized the need and potential for this type of event within their local community. 

The employees asked how they could make a real impact with the proceeds from their very successful event.  After meeting with representatives from Phoebe Foundation and social workers from Phoebe’s Cancer Center a decision was made to create the Albany Pink Crisis Fund. The ultimate goal is for every penny raised to be used for cancer patients at the Phoebe Cancer Center.

Help is here

With the level of disparity throughout Southwest Georgia, Phoebe Cancer Center social workers routinely see patients who are in financial stress, understandably exacerbated by their diagnosis of cancer. It is for this reason the Albany Pink Crisis Fund was started in June of 2015, designed to help indigent breast cancer patients in Southwest Georgia who are undergoing breast cancer treatment and are in desperate need of help with daily necessities such as rent, utilities, past due mortgages, pain and nausea medication, and other critical patient needs.  

It became increasingly obvious to the founding group that there were many more women who needed help, not just those with breast cancer.   In 2017 they announced that funds raised through the Albany Pink Walk 2017 would be expanded to help women being treated for breast cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and other female-specific cancers.  It was quickly brought to our attention that there were others, including men, who may also need help.  It was an easy choice for the group to, again, expand the scope of help to any cancer patient.  While breast cancer was and continues to be the passion of those who started this wonderful event, the goal is to help as many cancer patients as possible. This will allow the fund to honor and support even more patients and their families who are struggling during a very difficult time.

Impact

Funds raised have made an incredible impact in Southwest Georgia, providing critical assistance to financially stressed breast and other types of cancer patients, providing special garments to help patients suffering from lymphedema, and pulley systems to assist those working to regain shoulder motion after surgery and radiation. Removing financial barriers and helping to provide essential needs for these patients allows them to focus on treatment and recovery, reduces stress levels, and enhances their quality of life during this difficult time. In addition, the Albany Pink Walk for Cancer has provided mammograms and other diagnostic tests to catch cancer early.