Mercy & Alliant Energy join forces to promote the Power of Pink

Mercy Medical Center and Alliant Energy are joining forces to light the night pink on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Power of Pink event will mark the arrival of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month — October — with a lighting ceremony and free giveaways to promote awareness and early detection.

The Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, as well as Mercy’s main hospital entrances and other designated areas on the Mercy campus, will be illuminated in pink and remain lit throughout the month of October. Several large pink ribbons will also shine on the tallest part of the hospital.

The event takes place outside Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center on Tenth Street SE. A brief program at 7:30 p.m. will be followed by the illumination of the cancer center and hospital. Light refreshments will be served.

Additionally, Alliant Energy will be giving away free energy-saving, compact pink fluorescent light bulbs, while supplies last. Those who receive the light bulbs are encouraged to put them in their porch lights for the month of October as a reminder to women in their neighborhood to get screened for breast cancer.

The public is encouraged to attend — and wear pink. A $2 donation will be made to the Especially for You® fund for each person in attendance. The fund provides breast care services, such as mammograms, biopsies and ultrasounds for individuals in our community who can’t otherwise afford them.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Especially for You® Race Against Breast Cancer, on Sunday, Oct. 4. The race supports the Especially for You fund. More than 15,000 people are expected to participate. The race starts in front of the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center on Tenth Street SE at 8 a.m. The new course route this year will take participants through downtown Cedar Rapids, finishing in the historic NewBo district. There will be live music along the route, with more fun, food and family activities at the finish line.

Event Details

• What: Power of Pink lighting event
• When: Thursday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. A brief program precedes the lighting.
• Where: Mercy Medical Center’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids
• Why: To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month & promote early detection
• Who: The public is invited to attend.