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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, September 25, 2009 11:35 PM

ASK A PROFESSIONAL: Who are those men? (And why are they so pink?)

By LINDA BROWN, Ask A Professional

Thirty area businessmen sporting pink hair, wearing bright pink T-shirts and doing the chicken dance in front of an audience?

Oh, my.

The Prominently Pink Men of Franklin County will perform live Oct. 4 at the Ottawa Municipal Auditorium in a family friendly variety show planned to promote awareness for breast cancer and the Franklin County Cancer Foundation.

The brain-child of the Passionately Pink review, Nicole Huffman, is a breast cancer survivor.

“While I didn’t use any of the services available to me through the Franklin County Cancer Foundation during my cancer and treatment, I did get to know Gayle Norris through it,” Huffman said.

Norris, also a cancer survivor, is a board member for the local group and plays an active role in fundraising and building community awareness.

“Through Gayle, I learned about the FCCF and what they do,” Huffman said. “I’ve worked with the board for close to a year on this project, and so far I’ve been very impressed, not only by their tireless enthusiasm but also by the fact that they’re able to apply over 90 percent of the funds they raise to the cancer patients who need them.”

Huffman describes the coming show as plain old fun entertainment.

“The Ottawa Promenaders will be there in their full, fluffy dresses and a caller on stage,” she said.

Sabrina’s Dance Studio will do a “High School Musical” montage using pink basketballs, and the Ottawa University Choir will perform their jazz debut.

Other local talent will include The Saylers, Alan Cunningham and area elementary students, the Ottawa High School Cytones, Scott the Great Magician, Ottawa Suzuki Strings, OMS Band, Poet Gayle Norris and Heavenly Signs.

“We’ll have the fun part first, and then toward the end move into a more serious tone of thanksgiving, reflection and remembrance,” she said.

John Enright will perform a Mariah Carey signature song, “Hero.”

“It’s a song about looking to your inner strength when times are hard,” Huffman said. “The world can get pretty small when you’re going through cancer and treatment. Sometimes, even in the best of circumstances, you really do have to get inside yourself to survive.”

Lisa Covington, also a breast cancer survivor, will perform “I run for life.”

“There’s a line in the song that goes, ‘mothers, daughters, sisters, I run for you’” Huffman said. “It’s a very moving song, and Lisa does a fabulous job.”

The show is free, but a free-will donation time will be observed while area ministers read the names of Franklin County cancer victims and survivors.

“This show isn’t about money,” Huffman said. “It’s about building awareness. However, we won’t turn down folks who want to help with a monetary donation.”

The show is being produced 100 percent by volunteers.

“No one is being paid,” Huffman said. “Every talent, whether it’s singing or working the lights, is being done by volunteers. Even the city commission and OMA waived the usual fee for the use of the building.

“I’ve never taken on anything like this, but it’s been an awesome experience and I feel like it was God inspired.”

The show starts at 3 p.m. Oct. 4.

Linda Brown is marketing director for The Ottawa Herald. E-mail her at lbrown@ottawaherald.com

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ASK A PROFESSIONAL: Who are those men? (And why are they so pink?)

By LINDA BROWN, Ask A Professional

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.