The seventh annual Paint the Town Pink campaign supporting cancer research at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is ready to launch — literally.

This year, an extreme long distance hot air balloon event is part of the festivities with pilot Tim Cloyd of Des Moines donating proceeds from his annual cancer research fundraiser to Paint the Town Pink.

The committee urges anyone who wants to get involved in Paint the Town Pink campaign to do so.

Paint the Town Pink events are held all year with the 2017 official celebration being held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12.

This year’s Paint the Town Pink Ambassador is Debbie Retterath of Adams. Adams, like several other new communities joining the campaign, has helped raise thousands for The Hormel Institute’s cancer research to battle the disease that affects so many people.

“We come from such a wonderful caring community and sitting back watching other local towns get involved was motivating to us to join in the search for a cure cause simply — cancer sucks!”  said Patti Hamilton, also of Adams.

rted in 2010 with the Austin Bruins Paint the Rink Pink hockey game fundraiser that raised $22,000 for The Hormel Institute’s cancer research.

In 2011, Paint the Town Pink citywide events began and over $826,000 has since been raised by communities including Albert Lea, Owatonna, Kasson, Clarks Grove, Adams, Brownsdale, Rose Creek, Grand Meadow, and LeRoy.

Sterling Drug promotes Paint the Town Pink in their stores in Austin, Adrian, Buffalo, Caledonia, Fairmont, Faribault, Harmony, Hastings, LaCrescent, Northfield, Osage, Rushford, Spring Grove and Worthington. As with every donation to The Hormel Institute, 100 percent of the funds go to cancer research; none go to administrative expenses.

The Austin Area Chamber of Commerce will kick off Paint the Town Pink on Tuesday with Business After Hours for chamber members from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The Hormel Institute.

2017 steering committee members include director Kathi Finley, Michael Keeley and Carl Vagle (Austin Bruins) Kim Underwood (Austin Park and Rec) Jeff Baldus (Austin Area Foundation) Toren Bires (Hormel Foods) Mike Delhanty (Austin Daily Herald) Becky Earl (Primrose) Tami Yokiel (Mayo Clinic Health System Austin) Nancy Schnable (Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau) Jeanine Nelson (Austin Area Chamber of Commerce) Jeremy Olson (Hoot & Ole’s) Judy Enright (city of Austin and Hoot & Ole’s) Janet Anderson (Austin City Council, Children’s Matchbox Theatre) Neal Anderson (Mower County Fair) and from The Hormel Institute, Gail Dennison and Michelle Phillips.

Paint the Town Pink’s 2017 fundraising goal is $300,000  and a new event is inclusion of an extreme hot air balloon event that will take place by March.  Tim Cloyd of TEC Visions is the pilot who plans to donate the money he raises from his annual Exteme Flight to Find a Cure. Cloyd reads names of cancer survivors, fighters, and those who have lost the fight during the unusually long distance extreme flight.

Cloyd watches the weather to determine the best time to fly so the balloon can stay in the air for the longest possible amount of time. His goal is to fly between 200-500 miles at altitudes up to 17,000 feet and speeds up to 100 mph. Anyone donating $10 or more to the flight can designate the name of a loved one to be lifted up and read during flight. Donations can be made by by visiting TEC Visions’ website and printing out their donation form or using their online donation tools at www.tecvisions.org.

While this type of hot air balloon flight is dangerous and challenging due to extreme cold, low oxygen, and other risks, Cloyd — who learned about The Hormel Institute and Paint the Town Pink by YMCA director Tedd Maxfield — says he is happy to fly in support of all the cancer patients who fight for their lives.

“It’s nothing compared to what cancer patients go through,” said Cloyd. “This is my way of helping find new answers to cancer and recognize those people who have dealt with it.”

The first Extreme Flight to Find a Cure occurred in 2013, making this the fifth annual flight. Past flights have been over distances from 105 to 413 miles and Cloyd always aims to be in the air for as long as possible.

Donors will be notified of the flight date via email or by Tec Visions’ Facebook page a few days before the flight and can track the event live through the Tec Visions website.

As no one can be sure when the Extreme Flight to Find a Cure will happen this year or where the ideal take-off and landing points will be, other hot air balloon events will occur during Paint the Town Pink for a dose of high flying fun. Local ballooners Tedd Maxfield and others will have stationary balloons you can see at East Side Lake day of the Polar Plunge and at Mower County Fairgrounds the day of the 5k and demolition derby.

“We are thankful for all the events and for how generous and caring our communities are,” Paint the Town Pink director Kathi Finley said. “The people that come up with events or donate to Paint the Town Pink know firsthand of how cancer affects lives. Supporting research is the only way to truly make a difference.”

Finley urges anyone who is interested in participating in the 2017 PTTP to contact her at 507-460-0259 or by email at GoPTTP@gmail.com. PTTP updates and events on Facebook can be at: www.facebook.com/austinpttp