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In honor and recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Merit Health Natchez is leading the seventh annual community-wide campaign to Paint Natchez Pink on Thursday, October 17 at 4:30 p.m. on the Natchez Bluff in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mayor Dan Gibson will kick off the festivities by proclaiming Oct. 17 as Paint Natchez Pink Day. We encourage all breast cancer survivors to attend and let us recognize you! There will be music and photo opportunities in our GIANT pink chair! Most importantly, it will be a time to support and honor those in our community who are valiantly fighting breast cancer and those who have conquered their fight.  It will also be a time to remember those who lost their battle.

Merit Health Natchez is having a PINK OUT day for our employees on Thursday. We hope to have a sea of pink among our employees, and we encourage other local businesses, restaurants, shops and organizations to join us!  Have fun by considering the following:

• Decorate your home or store windows with a pink display.
• Encourage breast cancer survivors and their families to attend the event on October 12.
• Hold a “street” contest for the Best Pink Window display.
• Insert pink light bulbs in porch lights.
• Hang strands of pink lights.
• Have a pink pumpkin decorating contest at your business.
• Use special scripts to remind customers to get their annual mammograms.
• Use pink chalk to write messages of hope or honor co-workers battling breast cancer.
• Tie pink ribbons around trees in and around your neighborhoods and businesses.
• Salons could offer specials on pink colors/products on this day.
• Restaurants feature pink drinks or food on this day.
• Anything else to promote Breast Cancer Awareness at your business, home or organization!

We appreciate the sponsors of 17 local businesses who are helping us spread the message about breast cancer awareness.  This year, we are glad to have the involvement of the Downtown Natchez Alliance helping us spread the word.  You will even see pink pumpkins on Friday, October 18 in their downtown pumpkin patch.

Please join us on October 17 at the Natchez Bluff Bandstand.  Last but not least, we are excited to have the support of the Live at Five organizers on this day.  After the proclamation reading, stick around for some great music and the opportunity to have your picture made in our giant pink chair.  We want our community to see firsthand the commitment and support of not only our hospital but other local businesses and individuals, for this unique and fun way to create breast cancer awareness.  See you at the bandstand. Oh, and wear pink!

Kay Ketchings is Director of Marketing at Merit Health Natchez – 54 Sgt. Prentiss Drive, 601-443-2534.