Cure breast cancer one pink tulip at a time …

 

The Pink Tulip Project was founded by Robin Whitten of Portland, Maine after her 2004 breast cancer diagnosis. Throughout her winter-long treatment, Robin anticipated seeing her spring garden of tulips. That beautiful vision kept her going and inspired her to share the optimism of spring's renewal by creating the Pink Tulip Project.  The project creates community gardens of pink tulips in Maine towns, schools, health centers and public parks.  The goal is to promote community awareness of breast cancer while raising funds for the Maine Cancer Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Fund. 

 

In 2006, the project’s first year, bulbs were planted in public spaces in Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland, as well as University of Maine campuses.  The goal to raise $15,000 was exceeded by just over $5,000.  In 2007, participants planted more than fifty gardens from Houlton to York.  So far, these 2007 gardens have raised more than $40,000 for breast cancer research in Maine   The project now plans to expand to all interested communities, coloring Maine pink with hope and inspiration each spring.

 

Portland Longfellow Garden Club member, Aurelia C. Scott, has been working with the project since its beginning.  She says, “It’s a great way to celebrate optimism, bring people together, and beautify communities.  Truly, this is one of the most meaningful volunteer projects I’ve ever been involved with.  The gardens are everywhere - in parks, in front of medical facilities and schools, at country crossroads, and right beside busy city intersections.  Thirty-four thousand tulips in thirteen counties are in the ground ready to bloom pink in May!”

 

Aurelia says that the Pink Tulip Project would welcome the active involvement of Maine’s garden clubs.  “We’d love to talk with garden clubs interested in starting a Pink Tulip Garden in 2008 in their own community or anyone who wants to help already-established gardens throughout the state.  We’d also be happy to hear from anyone interested in joining the Pink Tulip Project coordinating committee.”

 

For more information, visit www.pinktulipproject.org.  Please contact Aurelia C. Scott (rekacs@maine.rr.com, 871-9716) or Joanne Jordan at Maine Cancer Foundation (joanne@mainecancer.org, 773-2533).