Pink-Tober is almost here
A story of giving back after being touched by those who helped her through her breast cancer journey has turned into not only a month of pink, but also into a nonprofit organization that continues to give to others going through that journey.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. With early detection, the five-year relative survival rate is more than 99%.
“One in five individuals will be touched with some kind of cancer in their lifetime. If we can be here to just ease anyone’s journey however we can — a card, gift, paying something during that time — we are here and we are not going away,” SanCap Pink Project Founder Mary Bondurant said.
She began the Let’s Pink Out, part of the SanCap Pink Project, in 2012 as a way to give back to the community for helping her through her breast cancer journey. That initial event began after then Sanibel Fire Chief Danny Duncan asked her to bring the mobile mammogram to the island in October.
That tradition continued every October.
In 2020, a nonprofit was established, and thus born the SanCap Pink Project. The nonprofit organization supports underinsured, uninsured and those experiencing a hardship while going through their cancer journey.
“A one and done offering mammograms and working with the fire chief turned into this October of awareness,” Bondurant said. “The event itself — pull up the bus and have coffee and tea for everyone has turned into a picnic, Pink Out Picnic — Health and Hope Expo. Last year we added the health expo.”
This year the event will be held Thursday, Oct. 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sanibel Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, due to construction taking place at the fire house. Individuals are asked to register for the event at pinkoutsanibel.com
The picnic will feature approximately 25 vendors displaying their services. Gift baskets featuring their services, or products, will be raffled to raise money for the organization.
This year’s sponsors include: picnic food sponsor Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant; event space sponsor SanCap Rotary Club; music sponsor Cypress Cove Living; photo sponsor SanCap Community Bank; beverage sponsor Bank of the Islands; picnic giveaway sponsor Star Team at John R. Wood; dessert Sponsor Superior Title; and shirt sponsor the Bondurant Family Team at Kingfisher Real Estate.
The Sanibel Community House and the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District are also big supporters.
There are a slew of other events throughout the month of October that will take place.
Bagging at Jerry’s Foods will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 17, and Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We will be back at Jerry’s, our Pink Out Project team will be raising awareness for what we do and helping our friends at Jerry’s bag for donations,” SanCap Pink Project President Grace Murphy said. “We do two sessions every Saturday — four to five team members at each session.”
One of those teams is from Community Housing and Resources, who come dressed up to bag groceries.
“We have a pink shopping bag and we ask for donations,” she said.
The donation results in the groceries being packed in a pink bag.
Murphy said they are still seeking volunteers to help bag groceries. Those interested can visit pinkoutsanibel.com, or their Facebook page SanCapPinkProject.
Another event, a first time event, is the Pink Wave at 4:30 p.m. on the beach using Pink Out umbrellas to create a ribbon, which will be photographed using a drone. Bondurant said Little Pink Dress Night at Sundial from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, will follow the Pink Wave.
“Hopefully it will grow, just like everything else. It will be wonderful, she said.
The organization will also stop at the Sanibel Farmer’s Market on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ladies night at Tahitian Gardens will take place Thursday, Oct. 15.
Bondurant said starting the nonprofit has truly been overwhelming with the amount of support they have been able to provide.
“We have put into the community over $30,000 worth of help over the years. Most of that has gone out in the past two years,” she said.
The help is offered in a slew of ways, all helping with cancer related needs — from focusing on mammograms and early detection testing to lost wages, household expenses, transportation and related expenses, insurance deductibles and copays, prescriptions and electric bills.
The help is open to everybody and can be done by filling out an application, which is not based on their income, but rather the hardship they are going through with their cancer journey at that time.
She said recently they had a woman, who loves reading, but was loosing her eye sight during treatment. Bondurant said through a partnership with MacIntosh Books they were able to get her audio books, so she could continue to enjoy books.
“This journey is not easy. When you first start out, I have insurance and it covers everything. There are so many other things and aspects that go into a cancer journey that you are not ready for,” she said, adding they can bridge the gap. “Cancer related financial hardships is also called financial toxicity.”
The responses she has received from those they help is the overwhelming part — where she becomes choked up and brings tears to her eyes.
“To receive the thank you message that we receive from individuals is just overwhelming,” Bondurant said. “It amazes me — over the years, the need is so great. Once they realize what we are doing, they are so thankful. You can’t put it into words when you receive accolades. It’s the Pink Team.”
Murphy was among those the organization helped. She said she was diagnosed in 2020 during COVID. When she arrived on the island and began working for the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, she was told she had to meet Bondurant.
“We had coffee and the next thing I know I was fully involved. The SanCap Pink Project helped me a few times — having assistance going through treatment was helpful,” she said.
Bondurant said people who received help have come back to volunteer, or pay it forward when they can.
“No one should face cancer alone. One person, one family, one hardship at a time. We don’t cure the cancer, but we help lighten the burden,” she said. “The support from our entire community — a restaurant, business, local individual — is wonderful and we can’t thank the community enough.”
The nonprofit recently began a support group that meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the Sanibel Public Library conference room.
“We didn’t think anybody would come. We are overwhelmed with how many people need the support. We started that in April and it is growing,” Bondurant said.
She said it is a space for everyone to talk — men, women, caregivers, friends and family.
For the October gathering, a guest speaker will talk about secondary insurance.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY / mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com, please email