Are you ready to take the plunge?

For the 2019 season, Paint the Town Pink is getting fired up for another campaign to raise money for breast cancer research with the mantra: “Every Dollar, Every Cancer, Every Person Matters.” Starting on Jan. 26, the annual fundraiser will launch with Plunging for Pink, the polar plunge held at East Side Lake.

Although the fundraiser happens throughout the year for research benefitting various cancers and treatments, late January and February still continue to highlight the official PTTP campaign, which unifies Austin and surrounding towns together to support The Hormel Institute’s research to understand, prevent and control breast and other cancers.

“Every dollar from Paint the Town Pink is funding research that would not otherwise be possible,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of The Hormel Institute. “The funding supports innovative studies that could lead to very important discoveries. It helps us explore new ideas and funds research data that could lead to major discoveries and large national grants to fund even more research. This support is very important to The Hormel Institute – together we are working to accelerate answers to cancer.”

Each year, more partners and communities join the PTTP efforts, with several states committing to the cause with events of their own, such as Iowa, North Dakota and Missouri in 2018.

Major popular events will return to PTTP’s lineup, including:

• Plunging for Pink on Jan. 26 at 12:30 p.m. at East Side Lake

• ‘Paint the Air Pink’  with KAUS Radiothon on Feb. 1

• Paint the Rink Pink on Feb. 2 at 7:05 p.m. at Riverside Arena

• Fishing for a Cure on Feb. 9 at noon at East Side Lake

• Smashin’ For Cancer Demo Derby and YMCA 5K on Feb. 10 at Mower County Fairgrounds

Each year, PTTP chooses an ambassador to help reflect and express the “why” of supporting breast cancer research. Maegan Siebe, a Banfield Elementary School first grade teacher, was selected as the 2019 ambassador. Siebe had shared her story of surviving breast cancer at the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours held at The Hormel Institute on Jan. 8, and talked about dealing with cancer as a young woman.

“Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind, and one of my main concerns was that the treatment would take me away from my young students and may prevent me from having children of my own,” Siebe said. “Because of The Hormel Institute and research like this, I survived and became a mom and now have my own little girl.”

ABC 6 News is partnering with The Hormel Institute in support of PTTP and KAUS Radio will get the message out by holding its annual ‘Paint the Air Pink’ radiothon on Feb. 1. Every donation to PTTP will go directly to cancer research at The Hormel Institute, with support of The Hormel Foundation.

The Hormel Institute distributes seed grants to cancer researchers with PTTP funds for innovative projects leading to major federal grants. With federal budgets threatening to be cut and research grants becoming more competitive, the grants are highly valued.

Have questions?

Contact PTTP Director Kathi Finley at gopttp@gmail.com or The Hormel Institute at 507-437-9601. For a complete list of all events happening in the area, go to hi.umn.edu/pttp.