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VALDOSTA – The "celebration" of Kool and the Gang erupted in the speakers as joy filled the faces of breast cancer survivors and their supporters.
The pink party was held Saturday at the South Georgia Medical Center in partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.
"The reason is a celebration in God of the fact that we are alive," said Lawanna Barron, senior organizer and sorority member.
Barron, a stage three breast cancer survivor, was among the happy feet dancing to the beat of Saturday's sweet music.
"Today, I am a six-year-old survivor and I am grateful," she said.
She was diagnosed with cancer on February 23, 2012 and underwent bilateral mastectomy or removal of both breasts.
"When you diagnose breast cancer, it's probably the most devastating thing you've ever heard," she said. "But the thing (it is) that God has brought us all here and that we continue to live."
She added that survivors must also pay attention to women with breast cancer who are no longer with them.
During the rally, women modeled in a fashion show, offering refreshments, dancing with members of the Pink Heals organization of the Valdosta Fire Department and enjoying a photo booth.
Medals were also awarded to each woman, rewarded for her number of years of breast cancer survival.
The women lined up to take pictures next to a pink fire truck, brought by the Tift County Fire Department, and they also signed the truck.
"One of the things we know is that, in the past, breast cancer was considered a deadly disease," Barron said.
She said that because of the treatment and research completed, breast cancer is now considered a chronic disease.
"God blessed us to be alive another day, another year. That's what it's all about, "she said.
The pink party concept originated from one of Barron's sister sisters, Alfie Armstrong.
Armstrong had invited Barron to Pink Parties in Atlanta, but because of Barron's chemotherapy treatment, she was unable to attend. This sparked an idea to start organizing his own pink party.
Compliance began at 306 North before moving on to the SGMC Pearlman Cancer Center and then to the SGMC cafeteria.
The event exceeded the size of each site, an answer that Barron called a blessing for God.
"The most important part of this celebration is that it now helps people to get out and talk about who I am as a survivor. Thus, each survivor using his personal testimony shows the test lived to be a source of inspiration for other women, "she said.
Barron recognizes that his party creates a fraternity and can be used as a tool of inspiration. She said it was a time when women could meet with others who had shared their experience.
The pink party has created a discussion on breast cancer, said Barron.
"Now, because of the pink party, you can talk about it because we are celebrating the life and blessings of God," she said.
She urges people to know their family history, talk to their doctors about these antecedents, and do routine mammograms for preventive purposes.
Sara Moore, a resident of Valdosta, attended the party in honor of her step-cousin, Nina Grace King, and her sister, Marlene Martin.
King had been diagnosed with cancer six times before dying in August, Moore said. Martin died of cancer on Labor Day with a blood clot in his lungs, Moore said.
Moore supported her two friends, Sarah Shaw and Susan Leonard, during the party.
Shaw is a five-year survivor of non-hormonal breast cancer. Leonard was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer in 2003 and colon cancer in 2011.
"God was good. God has blessed us all. We must be grateful, "said Shaw.
Shaw has been in the Pink Party for five years, believing it's a good support group.
"We all have the same thing in common. We all had to survive cancer. We had to encourage each other and that's why I keep coming back, "she said.
Sgt. Darren Williams and Battalion Chief Ronald Skrine, both of VFD, represented the Pink Heals Valdosta South Georgia Association at the event.
The section supports people who are fighting cancer and is a subset of the national organization. Williams is the local president Pink Heals and Skrine, the vice president.
"We want to support the people who fight, who fought, who survived and who live," said Williams.
He agreed that Pink Heals' participation at the party showed the community that the fire department supported them in a number of ways.
"We're here on our day off, we're just trying to be in the community and letting people know we're here, we care," Williams said.
It was the first time that a Pink Heals fire truck was at the Pink Party party, organizers confirmed.
Amanda Usher is a reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at 229-244-3400 ext. 1274.
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