Mayor declares 'Pink Week'
by Nathalie Nobert

Town council has declared this week “Pink Week” in support of the rodeo’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign to fight breast cancer.
The project was started two years ago by someone within the Wrangler Clothing Company whose wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The company, which donated $1 million to breast cancer research in 2006, puts out pink cowboy shirts across North America and proceeds from the sales will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
“Everybody has been touched by breast cancer,” Mayor Jim Bague said.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women with 1 in 9 women expected to develop the disease and 1 in 27 expected to die from it.
He encouraged everyone to get involved and assist the rodeo community in their battle against breast cancer.
Danielle Hansen, a member of the Rodeo Stampede Board and committee head of “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” in Rocky, took on this project because she too has relatives who have been affected by breast cancer.
“Our aim is to have as many businesses participate and turn Rocky Mountain House pink to show our support to those in our community that are facing this disease,” she stated.
Hansen said people are very excited and curious about the project and willing to help in whatever way they can.
Some ideas for businesses to show their support would be to have employees wear something pink, decorate your store front with pink or do a fundraiser yourselves and add to the donations being sent to the CBCF.
She said she will have a booth at the rodeo to sell pink merchandise and a can for donations to breast cancer research. Hansen said some businesses in town such as Westend Liquor Store also have cans for donations.
According to Lorrie McMeekin, President of Rocky Stampede Board, they have raised approximately $2,000 so far.
He said you also have one more incentive to come to the rodeo on Saturday, June 9, which has been declared “Pink Day.”
“See the mayor dressed in pink!” McMeekin laughed.
Hansen also asks any breast cancer survivors or fighters to contact her at 845-3092 so they can all come to the rodeo grounds on “Pink Day.” She said she would like to do this so everyone will know just how many women in our town have been affected by this disease. She also asks if anyone has any questions about the project to contact her at the aforementioned number.