A Leechburg fundraiser designed to support breast cancer research is about to reach a milestone.

The 10th annual Pink Day is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 18 along Market Street between First and Third streets. It benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Mayor Wayne Dobos said he is excited for its return after it was canceled last year and praised organizer Sherry Price for her efforts.

“I’m sure it will come back as strong as it has been,” Dobos said. “Sherry is quite a devoted person, and she is meticulous with getting all the little facts and figures lined up. … It’s a spotlight on Leechburg.”

Price said she is unsure how many people will attend, citing rising covid cases. There is no mask mandate for the outdoor event.

“Of course there’s always concerns, but we know that a lot of people are vaccinated,” Price said. “We know that people are just going to have to make their own personal choice as to whether they plan on attending. We’re trying to follow as many guidelines as we can. The food vendors will be gloved up and taking care of their stuff.

Pink history

Pink Day started along Market Street about a decade ago with a few borough business supporters and a shoestring budget.

Price said she made signs using cardboard and markers. Attendance steadily grew as more people found out about it.

Organizers began having a stage at the end of Second Street six years ago, which allowed for more entertainment and other possibilities.

Vendors were on the sidewalks for several years as the street remained opened to traffic until the borough allowed a portion of Market Street to be closed.

About 75 volunteers have signed up to be a part of this year’s event.

Price said it has grown to 61 financial supporters and more than 85 vendors, including 15 food sellers.

“I don’t know that I ever really thought about how long Pink Day would run or how many years it would run,” Price said. “It does get a little more complex and complicated every year as we try to grow it a little bit.

“For Leechburg it’s an awesome time for people to get together. They see people that they haven’t seen since the previous Pink Day. It’s not just a fundraising event. It’s also about trying to highlight Leechburg … I’m expecting it to be a banner year for us.”

Tommy Scanga and his fiance Cheryl Koontz, who own DelVecchio’s Sausage, have been food vendors at the event for about four years.

“It is the funnest show of the year, and it’s for a good cause,” Scanga said.

Scanga said he tries to make something new each year. This year, it’s a meal featuring Mancini’s bread slices with a homemade pesto sauce, marinated tomatoes, fresh in-house mozzarella cheese and broiled on the spot.

What else awaits

Other activities that are planned include horse and carriage rides courtesy of West Sunbury-based Misty Lanes Farms Performance Horses, raffles, cornhole tournament and the Kiski Valley Community Church Kids Zone packed with children’s activities.

There will be performances by the Leechburg Area High School marching band and cheerleaders, Sandra Lynn’s School of Dance, Big House Pete Acoustic, Gary Prisby, Jay Michaels, Risen to Save, Miss Freddye & Her Blues Band, Lenny Collini 4Pak, Edgewood, Jess Sides Band and Belly Dance by Malissa.

A 5K walk/run presented by IPG Fitness is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., and a foam party is planned for 3:30 p.m.

Pink Day has raised more than $120,000 since its inception, including about $27,000 last year despite not having the usual celebration.

Organizers collected about $9,000 through pink shirt sales and other donations, and an anonymous foundation donor contributed $18,000. This year’s goal is to raise $30,000.

Personal connection

Price will be celebrating her own milestone at the event, and it’s not just her 58th birthday, which falls a few days prior.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, had surgery in May and went through her last treatment in mid-July.

“I’ve been asked 1,000 times, ‘Why do you do this?’ ” she said. “It’s a lovely thing for the town, and we raise money for a really good cause. It took me a minute to get over the whole weird irony of the situation. It just tripled my appreciation for Pink Day.”

Price said she is the first in her family to get breast cancer and is grateful to be cancer free.

Baskets for the raffle still are being accepted. Those who want to contribute can contact Sherry Price via Facebook.

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