A town united: Paint the Town Pink kicks off its 9th year
Published 9:17 am Wednesday, January 9, 2019
- Maegen Siebe recounts her own battle with cancer during the Paint the Town Pink kick-off Tuesday night during Business After Hours at the Hormel Institute. Siebe is this year’s ambassador. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
As so many have, Maegan Siebe shed tears as she talked about her personal story of surviving cancer.
At the age of 26, Siebe discovered the lump that would change her life forever, a life that now included breast cancer. It was, to say the least, a harsh change of life’s path.
“It’s still the kind of thing that stopped my life in its tracks,” Siebe told the audience gathered at The Hormel Institute, which hosted Business After Hours Tuesday night.
As the battle became real, it took her away from the things she loved, including teaching.
“I was a first grade teacher,” she said. “It became difficult for me to work safely. I had to leave my kids, my purpose.”
While that news, back in 2013, left Siebe uncertain about her future, Tuesday was a moment of strength that she had survived.
Siebe is this year’s ambassador for Paint The Town Pink as the initiative prepares to celebrate nine years of changing lives.
“I’m thankful and grateful to be here,” Siebe said. “It’s been a long, long journey.”
While many of the activities taking place throughout the year lend a certain fluidity to the fundraiser, this year’s main set of events kicks off on Jan. 19 with the Hotdish Feed and Bean Bag Tournament at Hoot and Ole’s. Paint The Town Pink will then run through Feb. 10 with the Smashing Cancer Demolition Derby at the Mower County Fairgrounds.
All events raise money for the fight against cancer that has taken the community of Austin and surrounding area by storm. Both young and old are involved.
“As always, thank you, for your continued support of Paint The Town Pink” said PTTP chair Kathy Finley. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Bruiser shows off the jersey the players will be wearing this year during Paint the Rink Pink. On the jersey are over 100 names of those touched personally by cancer. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Paint the Rink Pink is one of the longtime favorites, when the blue and white overtones of Riverside Arena take on a distinctly pink theme — including the jerseys the players wear to the ice on which they play.
This year’s game will be on Feb. 2 when the Bruins host the Minnesota Magicians at 7:05 p.m. This year the jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game will be covered with over 100 names of those who have been directly affected by cancer.
On top of that, co-owner Mike Cooper announced Tuesday night that instead of the $1,000 shot contest between the second and third periods where a lucky fan tries to hit a small slot placed in front of the goal from center ice, the club is upping the stakes by making the shot $100,000.
All in all it’s a continuing effort to rally around the research for defeating cancer, but it was Siebe who put it so simply: “I’ve benefited from The Hormel Institute and the research they’ve done,” she said. “I’m so fortunate to see what the Austin community has done.”
2019 Paint the Town Pink Events
• Jan. 19: Hotdish Feed and Bean Bag Tournament at Hoot & Ole’s, 11 a.m.
• Jan. 26: Plunging for Pink, East Side Lake, 12:30 p.m.
• Feb. 2: Paint the Rink Pink, Riverside Arena, 7:05 p.m.
• Feb. 9: Fishing for a Cure, East Side Lake, Noon
• Feb. 10: YMCA 5K Super Run, Mower County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.; Smashing Cancer Demolition Derby, Mower County Fairgrounds, 1 p.m.
