For the fourth year TAMARACK: The Best of West Virginia displays the world’s longest pink scarf, a visual symbol to promote breast cancer awareness.
According to Marketing Direction Cindy Whitlock, this handiwork created by over 400 women and four men from 29 states, Canada and Puerto Rico now measures 6060 ft. and counting. Work continues on the scarf which organizers hope will reach two miles by Oct. 31. Breast cancer survivors and the public in general are invited to the official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m.
Beckley ARH will help sponsor the ceremony, and Oak Hill antique car aficionado Charlie Rogers will park his pink 1960 Dodge at the front entrance and Tamarack bakers will offer pink sugar cookies. During the month a variety of partners will be at Tamarack to share information. Some businesses and organizations will display portions of the scarf in their locations. WV Susan G. Komen, Crossroads Chevrolet, Beckley ARH, Raleigh Regional Cancer Center, New River Health Association, USPS, Fayette County National Bank and others are among Tamarack’s partners for October.
Tamarack also commemorates American Craft Week Oct. 4-13 by displaying this traditional American handcraft made up of crocheted and knitted pieces. To support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many Tamarack artisans also create special pink ribbon products. Jewelry, candy, apparel, glass, pottery, and more are on sale.
Artisans featured will donate to a breast cancer cause individually. Staff will wear pink every Friday in October, and pink sugar cookies will be on sale every Friday in the food court. Skeins of yarn, crochet hooks and knitting needles are available for people who would like to rock and work on the scarf while visiting Tamarack.
After seeing the scarf at Tamarack last October, advocate and Fort Wayne resident Linda Balthauser wanted the scarf displayed in Indiana. Thanks to the financial and promotional support of Parkview Health, the Auer Art Center and Allen County Public displayed the scarf in August. TAMA 2-2—2-2- Pieces collected at those events will be measured on October 11, and added to the length of the main scarf. Fort Wayne actively works toward breast cancer awareness with a variety of events including a city-wide pink-out on the 21st of every month.
Locally, Terri’s Tribute continues to work toward two goals: raise awareness of breast cancer via the scarf, and raise money for scholarships for kids who’ve lost a mom to breast cancer.
The first scholarship was awarded to a Fayetteville High School 2013 grad who lost his mom to breast cancer when he was in middle school. Terri’s Tribute was started in January 2010 as a call to action after Terri Lynne Massey passed away on Oct. 29, 2009, at age 39 after a four-year battle against breast cancer leaving behind a loving family and an inspired community. Their annual blood drive, this year on Oct. 26 at the Oak Hill Tabernacle Church, is the state’s third largest and commemorates its fifth year.
For more information about the scarf, pink ribbon WV-made products and other activities, call 1-88-TAMARACK or visit tamarackwv.com. Friend Tamarack on Facebook and follow Tamarack on Twitter. Located off Exit 44 on I-77/64, Tamarack is open daily from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
