There is still time to sign up for Saturday’s race and walk to benefit Paint the Planet Pink. The most eye-catching of several events — men racing in high heels — is also on Saturday.
“It’s probably the most fun thing that we do, because it is fun to watch,” said President and CEO Barb Sciandra.
On the serious side, the Pittston-based all-volunteer nonprofit hopes its series of events will raise $100,000.
In its first 12 years, Paint the Planet Pink, originally called Paint Pittston Pink, has raised $1 million for research. It has primarily gone to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. All of this year’s proceeds are headed there. While pink is associated with breast cancer, the donations fund research into cancer in general.
Sciandra was successfully treated at the University of Pennsylvania after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, three months after giving birth to her third child.
“Every year it’s such a humbling experience, watching the amount of support that we receive and our community coming together,” she said.
Erika Wenger, of Moosic, sports a colorful pink outfit for a past Paint the Planet Pink event in Scranton. Wenger’s T-shirt is a reminder that many of those in attendance are cancer survivors, themselves. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)
Races and walk
The Color Me Pink 5K and Fun Walk begins Saturday at 11 a.m. in Courthouse Square, on Linden Street between North Washington Avenue and Adams Avenue.
Around 200 people are already signed up.
Online registration ends Friday, but registration will be open at the starting point. The fees are $39.44 for the 5K and $28.74 for the fun walk.
Gentlemen’s Dash
The Gentlemen’s Dash follows at noon. Paint the Planet Pink invites a handful of men who are active in the community. They will be collecting donations through Oct. 3. High heels are just the beginning. Some add tutus or other costume elements to their running gear.
The runners making a short sprint down Linden Street include Shaun Daney, Dino Galella, Stephen Galella, Mason Gross, John Joyce, Russell Keeler, Anthony Macario and Jack Nealon. Check social media for Paint the Planet Pink and the men’s personal social media for donation links.
Last year’s Gentlemen’s Dash raised $47,952. Michael Capone won the race and Matthew Byrne raised the most money.
Other events through Oct. 3
Saturday’s events begin at 9 a.m. with Mass and an award presentation at the University of Scranton’s Madonna Della Strada Chapel. People of all faiths are invited.
Also on the schedule are a cash and purse bingo event on Sunday, Sept. 27, at St. Maria Goretti Church Banquet Hall in Laflin; ’90s trivia night and meat raffle on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Sabatini’s Bottleshop in Exeter; and Paint the Red Mill Pink, a guest bartender happy hour, on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Red Mill in Pittston.
Details, tickets and an option to donate directly are at Painttheplanetpink.org. http://Painttheplanetpink.org.