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Organization hopes to expand reach in Clermont County BY KELLY CANTWELL Editor
B R O A D S H E E T E V E N
When Tracie Martin was diagnosed with breast cancer 16 years ago at age 30, she was raising two young children and didn’t know anyone who could relate. “I just felt completely alone,” Martin said, adding that getting breast cancer before age 40 is incredibly rare. However, what Martin, who lives on the west side of Cincinnati, did have that not all women fighting breast cancer have is a strong support system, made up of family, friends and her fellow church members. “The people that surrounded me, my family and friends, were just invaluable,” Martin said. Her friends did things like clean her house and take her to doctor appointments. Martin, who describes herself as “fortunate” for catching her cancer early, had a double masectomy so that if the cancer came back, she knew she did everything she could the first time. She is not sure how she would have made it through without her support system. “It enabled me to concentrate on the things I needed to concentrate on, and that was a lifesaver,” Martin said. Pink Ribbon Girls who born out of that. However, it was really when Martin’s friend, Heather Salazer, asked her about expanding the program to Dayton five years ago and, with that, “firm up” everything that Martin was doing, that the program became what it is today. The organization has three programs: Simply Fight, which provides services to patients with Stage IIII breast and women’s reproductive cancer, No Age No Stage, which provides services to patients with metastatic breast and women’s reproductive cancer, and Love Your Girls, which is an educational outreach program. The organization provides three free services to women who have breast cancer or a reproductive cancer, although Martin added that she would also provide these services to men with breast cancer as well. There are no income
or age restrictions for the services. “You fight your cancer and we help lighten your load,” Martin said. The first service is meals for the patient and her family three times a week. The meals, which are prepared by a chef, are heart-healthy, organic, nutrient dense food that is good for cancer patients, and, Martin said, is delicious. The family receives enough individually packaged and frozen meals to feed each family member. “It just eliminates a lot of stress and anxiety,” Martin said. Pink Ribbon Girls also provides a twice-a-month house cleaning service for two months. The women get to choose what two months they receive the cleaning service, so they can pick a month they are receiving chemotherapy, for example. The third service the organization provides is rides to treatment. Pink Ribbon Girls currently works with Kim Borcherding, a Buick and GMC dealer in Cincinnati, for cars to use. Martin would love to find a car dealership on the east side of Cincinnati that would be willing to arrange a similar partnership. She is also looking for businesses that would be willing to partner in other ways, such as wrapping a vehicle in pink. Auxier Gas, Inc., a company located in Batavia that supplies propane, originally supported the American Breast Cancer Association with a pink vehicle, but felt there was no real relationship there, said Eric Sears, customer relations representative. Then, Sears met Martin. “We felt that there was a better opportunity for real work to be done and we would be able to feel better about what we are supporting because we can see the results of where our pink truck is going,” Sears said. By supporting Pink Ribbon Girls, Sears is able to meet and hear stories of people impacted locally by the organization. “That is where we really get our warm fuzzies from,” Sears said. Since beginning to partner with the organization, Sears does not feel they made the wrong choice.
PHOTO / KELLY CANTWELL
Auxier Gas, Inc., a propane supplier located in Batavia, sponsors Pink Ribbon Girls, an organization that provides free services to patients with breast cancer or reproductive cancer. One of Auxier’s trucks is painted to show the company’s support.
“If anything we feel stronger about it,” he said. Auxier Gas not only supports Pink Ribbon Girls, but supports other organizations, such as the Veterans Airlift Command. “We’re a local company and we want to make sure we are impacting our community,” Sears said. All the money that Pink Ribbon Girls raises stays local. The organization currently workings in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus and is expanding to northern Ohio. “We’re really just kind of hometown proud,” Martin said. This month, Lady of Sun, a company located in Eastgate Mall that recently celebrated its first anniversary, is partnering with Pink Ribbon Girls to help raise money for the organization. Lady of Sun provides airbrush tans and sells organic beauty products. “Tracie is just amazing,” said Erin Neace, owner. She felt that the organization’s work to empower women fit with her company’s goal. In addition, Neace has not only watched some of her family members battle breast cancer, but many of her clients have breast cancer and come in to get an airbrush tan because they can’t be out in the sun or use a UV tanning bed. “It makes us feel good to make them feel good,” Neace said. The tan gives these women a glow and a confi-
PHOTO / PROVIDED
From left, Tracie Martin, founder and director of development for Pink Ribbon Girls, stands with Heather Salazar, CEO of Pink Ribbon Girls. The organization, which provides free services to those battling breast cancer or a woman’s reproductive cancer, is trying to reach more people in Clermont County.
dence boost without putting them in danger, she added. During October, anyone who donates $5 to Pink Ribbon Girls can get a custom tan for $30, a $40 value. In addition, raffle tickets are available to win a year of free spray tanning, a $540 value. All of the proceeds will go to Pink Ribbon Girls. Raffle tickets are available $5 for one ticket, $10 for two tickets and $20 for five tickets. The winner will be announced Nov. 1. For more information, go to
ladyofsun.com and click on Events & Coupons. Lady of Sun will be selling Pink Ribbon Girls merchandise in their store, which the organization will receive all the proceeds from, and will be donating 20 percent of the proceeds from the company’s breast cancer awareness merchandise to the organization. Neace also had a chance to promote the organization when she was filmed spray tanning comedian Gary Owens for a skit that will air on Black Entertainment Tel-
evision on Oct. 11. She described what Martin is doing as “inspiring,” and said she wants to do whatever she can to help. Martin is excited to see how Pink Ribbon Girls continues to grow. “It’s been great. I’m really proud of where we are and where we came from,” Martin said. To get involved, volunteer or make a donation, email Martin at tmartin@pinkribbongirls.or g, call 877-269-5367 or go to pinkribbongirls.org.
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