—Daily Herald Editorial

A good thing is continuing to get better across Austin and Mower County.

Austin officially kicked off the third year of community wide Paint the Town Pink celebrations Friday. PTTP started with a simple concept in 2011, when the Austin Bruins and Hormel Institute partnered for a fundraiser to raise money for breast cancer research. The team painted the rink, auctioned off the team’s pink jerseys and the rest is history. In 2012, Paint the Rink ballooned into Paint the Town Pink, and now all of Austin and several area communities are getting behind the push for breast cancer research.

Last year’s PTTP raised more than $115,000, and organizers are hoping for $150,000 this year. When you consider the Lyle Area Cancer Auction raised $186,000 for cancer research last month, that would be more than $330,000 raised for cancer research in Mower County in two months.

That’s a great way to start 2014. Mower County and area residents should be proud to see that kind of generosity and commitment in the community.

But it’s not just about the money. PTTP has brought the community together for a common cause. Drive down almost any block in town, and you’ll see pink. Been to an Austin sporting event in recent weeks? Chances are you saw pink. From businesses and organizations to schools and individuals, everyone is getting behind PTTP. The outpouring of community support is just as impressive as any monetary donation — if not more.

We’d like to thank The Hormel Institute, the Austin Bruins, and all PTTP volunteers and organizers for such all the work that goes into making a great event.

The Herald supports PTTP. We will have a pink banner on the front page throughout PTTP, and we will run a schedule of events every day. Continue to look to the Herald in coming weeks for coverage of PTTP events.

The events are just beginning, so get out and support PTTP.