Nearly 500 men and women gathered at the Hickory Metro Convention Center on October 1, 2005, as Frye Regional Medical Center hosted the unifour area’s first Celebration of Pink to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This special evening was designed to educate our community on breast cancer awareness and prevention.

Keynote speaker Dr. Jerri Nielsen shared her inspiring story of survival as she battled breast cancer while stationed at the South Pole. Dr. Terry Sarantou, Medical Director of Frye’s Cancer Center, discussed advancements in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. WBTV News Anchor Tonia Bendickson emceed the event, and Sheri Lynch from 107.9 FM The Link facilitated the question and answer session. The speakers shared personal experiences of how breast cancer had touched their lives and those of their families.

Dr. Nielsen, an emergency room physician, discovered that she had a tumor in her breast while she was stationed in the South Pole. She could not be evacuated because of the weather, keeping her marooned for months. Dr. Nielsen performed her own breast biopsies and relied on her physician 11,600 miles away to diagnose her condition while they conversed via video-conferencing. They soon discovered the cells were cancerous. Dr. Nielsen began hormone therapy and chemotherapy sessions on her own until she was rescued by the U.S. National Guard.

Participants received dinner, educational materials and a goody bag filled with items provided by event sponsors. Sponsors of Celebration of Pink included: The Cancer Center at Frye, The Women’s Pavilion at Frye, FryeCare, WBTV, 107.9 FM The Link, The Hickory Daily Record, The American Cancer Society, The Susan G. Komen Foundation, Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley, Frye Volunteer Auxiliary, It’s My Party Rentals, Creations Florists and Gifts, A Sign Co, Piedmont Plastic Surgery Center, Kingston Residence of Hickory, Hickory Surgical Clinic, Piedmont Pathology, McDonald’s.

The general public also had the opportunity to sponsor centerpieces for Celebration of Pink in honor of or in memory of a loved one who has battled or is currently battling breast cancer created by Creations Florist and Gifts. All sponsored centerpieces donated to the event were available for purchase. Proceeds from arrangements purchased that evening were donated to either the American Cancer Society or The Susan G. Komen Foundation, purchaser’s choice.

The response from the community was overwhelming, and many people have already begun asking when the event will be held again next year. Frye hopes to make Celebration of Pink an annual event, taking the opportunity to educate our community on breast cancer awareness and prevention.