Leechburg is gearing up for its 11th Pink Day fundraiser to support breast cancer research.
“We are happy to be back again,” said event coordinator and resident Sherry Price. “We love holding this event and being in Leechburg.”
Leechburg Mayor Tony Roppolo is excited to attend this year’s Pink Day, which is planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17 on Market Street. He said the event has become a big community reunion for people.
“You see a lot of hugs on the streets and people who haven’t seen each other for years,” he said.
Pink Day got its start from two local small-business owners, Gary and Vicki Peterman. It is always held on the third Saturday of September.
The event had a temporary hiatus in 2020 because of covid but returned in 2021 with thousands of people exploring the pink-filled day.
Kimberly Ryan, an artist from Lower Burrell, has been a vendor for the event several times. She recently felt compelled to write a book about Pink Day to help contribute to its cause. Her book, “A Trip to Pink Day,” was released in March and gives a fictionalized experience of what it is like to attend the event. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
Price said Ryan will be selling and signing the book at her booth. All proceeds will be donated to Pink Day.
Attendees can catch performances on the main stage at Market Street and Second Avenue and the stage at Freedom Square.
Other activities include the IPG Fitness Walk/Run 5K scheduled at 8:30 a.m., a foam party, a reptile show with a meet-and-greet afterward, a kids zone, silent auction and 50/50 raffles. People can pre-register for the 5K at leechburgpinkday.com; registration ends Sept. 16.
There will be many booths to check out, as 95 vendors are scheduled to appear. Nine food vendors, as well as businesses on-site, will offer a variety of cuisine to satisfy attendees’ hunger.
All proceeds raised on Pink Day will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Price said this year’s event will be dedicated to former Leechburg Mayor Wayne Dobos, who died in March. After the Welcome to Pink Day introduction, a short memorial and moment of silence will be held at 10 a.m. on the main stage.
Price said Dobos was the ultimate Pink Day ambassador, never missing a day.
“He was such a joy to work with in the last many years we have done this together. We miss him,” she said.
