Lynchburg’s “I Pink I Can” event unites breast cancer survivors

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there is a special event this Saturday in Lynchburg to bring awareness to breast cancer. It is the annual “I Pink I Can” event at River Ridge Mall.

For Lynchburg resident Wendy Ford-Brown, each day she drives from Hill City to work at Albemarle County Public Schools, a trip of more than an hour. She loves her job and the people she works with. Wendy got even more love from family, friends, students, and coworkers when she got the word about being diagnosed with breast cancer back in June 2019.

“I went for my regular mammogram. They saw a little something, so I went back again. And then they told me that I need to come back for an ultrasound. So, I went back for my ultrasound. Then I had to go back for a biopsy. And after the biopsy, they told me that I had breast cancer,” said Wendy Ford-Brown.

After more biopsies, in October of 2019, she reached Stage 4 breast cancer. She got a mastectomy in November 2019. Then, in the following year of 2020, through more treatment, she became cancer-free. Wendy has been that way ever since. There has been one big way that has helped her become a cancer survivor.

“Stay busy, don’t um if you have pity parties, don’t let them last long. Make sure you have good support, good friends, people that you can count on. I have one friend we’ve been friends for like 12 years, and it seems like she knows when I’m getting down, and she’ll always come by say, ‘Come on over my house, and let’s settle on the porch’. You have to have good support because it is a struggle every November when it’s time for me to go get my mammogram. I always feel, you know, scared, anxious, so it’s good to have great support,” said Ford-Brown.

When it comes to Lynchburg’s annual “I Pink I Can at River Ridge,” Wendy looks forward to the event, sharing time with breast cancer survivors and patients dealing with the disease.

“I worked in the mall for several years, and they would um decorate so pretty. Then, on that Saturday. I was just too lazy to get up and come. Once I stopped working in the mall, I decided to stop in on Saturday, and I hit the best time, and now I’m trying to make everyone. I’m very excited. I have invited a lot of people. And the pink is just so pretty, and I like to come because I feel like maybe I can help someone that’s going through right now, or even someone who has been through that, you know, struggles from day-to-day. I give my number out. I try to make friends,” said Ford-Brown.

WFXR is proud to be a part of this year’s “I Pink I Can” event at Lynchburg’s River Ridge Mall.
You can show your support to cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It kicks off this Saturday, at 11 a.m., with two laps around the mall for the pink procession. There are also raffles, swag bags for purchase, and other activities. All money raised goes to help the “Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Care Center Fund.”