Paint the Town Pink events start this weekend with Fishing for a Cure at East Side Lake

Published 6:55 am Thursday, January 23, 2020

Events start this weekend, and will continue throughout the whole year to celebrate and thank the community and beyond for 10 years of Paint the Town Pink.

Organizers aim to “Raise a Record Number” of dollars, events, communities, and grants in 2020 to celebrate the landmark anniversary.

“Ten years ago our community — starting with the Austin Bruins’ Paint the Rink Pink — created Paint the Town Pink to further cancer research at The Hormel Institute,” said Kathi Finley, director of PTTP. “Now here we are 10 years later with a decade full of added volunteers, communities, events and organizations supporting and furthering cancer research to help extend lives through research, prevention and discoveries. It is a reflection of how good the people in our communities are and how much they care. Please join in as we have hopes and plans to ‘Raise a Record Number’ through October!”

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Fishing for a Cure will take place from noon to 2 p.m. this Saturday with registration starting at 11 a.m. The entry fee is $15 and includes drilled holes, bait, door prizes and a meal. After the tournament, raffles, a silent auction, and a meal will take place at the Eagles Club.

Last year, Fishing for a cure raised $26,458. The fact that a fishing tournament can raise this kind of money continues to astound organizers.

Groups of people mingle on East Side Lake during Fishing for a Cure. Herald file photos

“It is unbelievable to live in a community, which has extended outside of our community, into the area, that are so willing and interested to try to find a cure,” said Hayley Newman, one of the organizers of the event. “Year after year we can raise $15,000, $20,000, $25,000. We go up every year. We couldn’t do that without the local businesses that give and support. It’s just insane.”

Fishing for a Cure can be looked at in a sense as the longest running event of Paint the Town Pink, simply because it predates it.

The tournament started as an informal gathering of Hormel employees, but in 2009 the group started donating to The Hormel Institute.

Since that time, Fishing for a Cure has raised a total of $138,031.46

Plunging for Pink will kick off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 at East Side Lake. Registration for those jumping opens at 11:30 a.m.

Over the past six years, Plunging for Pink has raised $312,000. Last year alone the event raised $93,720.50.

The Pinky Plunge will be an option again this year for those unable or unwilling to take the full plunge. Jumpers are asked to raise $50 and pinky plungers are asked to raise $30 to participate. Visit www.plungingforpink.com/ for more details.

The Austin Bruins’ Paint the Rink Pink game starts at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Riverside Arena.

Smashing Cancer Demo Derby is 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Mower County Fairgrounds.

More events can be found at www.hi.umn.edu/pttp/.

Look for information about a summer concert, fall gala, and more in the coming months.