Reason for Celebration

By Ralphine Major

It started out as one small act of kindness and a simple mission.  A group of ladies passed a can around to help cancer patients with gas money.  Today, the collection can has grown and so has the mission!  Who could have imagined that eight years later, the group of ladies are looking to hire at least one part-time person to help with their very worthy cause!

Presented by the Provision Proton Therapy Center, Compassion in Action’s 8th Annual Pink Ribbon Celebration will take place on Thursday, October 20, 2016, at the Grande Event Center, 5441 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912.  Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner begins at 6:30, and there will be a cash bar.  Attire is dressy casual.

The benefit enables Compassion in Action to raise money for their fund which has helped uninsured and underinsured women receive breast imaging.  Since 2009, Compassion In Action has paid for mammograms, breast ultrasounds, breast biopsies, and breast MRIs.  In addition, they have helped cancer patients with financial needs, such as paying utility bills, house payments, and cancer medications.

Individual tickets for the event are $50.  Sponsorship packages make it possible for breast cancer survivors to attend the fun-filled event free of charge.  These packages include sponsoring a table (eight tickets) or donating an item valued at $50 or more for the Silent Auction.  One highlight will be the beautifully decorated tables which will represent different occasions we celebrate throughout our lives.

Last year’s event drew a crowd of 500, and this year is sure to be another success!  A talented group of entertainers on the program include musician Con Hunley, comedian Leanne Morgan, and speaker and breast cancer survivor Amy Carr.  Emcees will be WBIR News anchor Robin Wilhoit and B97.5 radio personalities Michele Silva and Valerie Anderton.  For reservations, call 865-333-4939.  Sponsors for the event are Compassion In Action, B97.5, Buddy Check 10, The Knoxville Focus, and Coleman’s Printing & Awards.  Come and be a part of this wonderful evening and know that you are helping honor breast cancer survivors; you are helping raise much needed funds to meet the needs of  cancer patients; and most of all, you are helping support a “Reason for Celebration!”

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