PINK-A-CABANA: Friends and Compassion are Always in Fashion!

Pink Aid’s 11th Annual Fashion Show is shaping up to be a celebration for the ages - particularly for pandemic-weary people eager for a night out to support a great cause. The event will be held at Mitchells, Westport on Thursday evening, October 7th from 6:30-10:30 PM. Event chairs Marria Pooya and Asante Robinson have gathered an incredible committee to ensure that this year’s event is bigger, better and pinker than ever with celebrity guests, amazing auction items and lots of surprises.

Westporter Marria Pooya, founder of Greenwich Medical Spa, has been a long-time supporter of Pink Aid both as a volunteer and as a corporate sponsor. Pink Aid’s mission is deeply personal to Marria. “Several years ago my dear friend Leila was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She needed assistance with treatment support, household and related expenses. Neither she nor I were aware of Pink Aid or its many helpful services. After I learned of Pink Aid and its outreach programs, I knew I wanted to get more involved because there are many more Leilas out there and many more who need Pink Aid’s help.”

Norwalk resident Asante Robinson became involved with Pink Aid in 2017 after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Her experience led Asante to reach out to her faith community and arm them with the information and resources they needed to take control of their health. Asante continues to live Pink Aid’s mission “to heal by helping and inspiring others.” Besides rowing with the Surviv-oars at Saugatuck Rowing Club and chairing this year’s event, Asante has taken on a leadership role with Pink Aid’s Warrior Connection which promotes education and peer mentorship for breast cancer patients. Says Asante, “It is truly an honor to work with Pink Aid to help women with breast cancer from early detection to survivorship. Pink Aid’s mission of providing, “compassion until there’s a cure” gives women that added assurance that they are not walking this journey alone and for that I will do my part to give back what the Pink Aid family has so generously given to me.”

The event will kick off Pink Aid’s second decade and we cannot wait to see how Marcia Selden Catering will translate the night’s theme, Pink-a-Cabana, into dinner and cocktails. As always, the core of the event will be the Warrior Fashion Show, a celebration of women who have recovered or are living with breast cancer. Having walked that runway herself, Asante is incredibly excited to celebrate this year’s group in person. Limited ticket sales will begin September 9th and as in year’s past, are expected to sell-out quickly. Virtual viewing will be available for those unable to attend in person. To learn more event details as they become available, visit www.pinkaid.org.

Pink Aid, is a Connecticut-based 501C3 charity formed in 2011 to help underserved women survive breast cancer treatment with support and dignity. A second chapter, serving Long Island, was started in 2014, and the organization aspires to expand into other communities. To date, Pink Aid has granted out over $6.5 million to pay essential household expenses, provide diagnostic testing, treatment, recovery and wellness support and to fund outreach and education. Health care providers throughout Connecticut and Long Island have quickly come to rely upon Pink Aid to help their underserved patients.