Think Pink events planned in October

The Brainerd Dispatch has joined Susan G. Komen for the Cure to "Paint the Town Pink" to spotlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Here are some highlighted events planned during October:

The Brainerd historic water tower will be lighted pink Oct. 12-17.

Police officers in Brainerd, Crosby, Aitkin and Staples, as well as Crow Wing and Aitkin county deputies, will be wearing pink ribbons in October.

Brainerd U.S. Postal Service workers will wear pink ribbons in October.

Two hundred large ribbons will be posted on business signs for businesses that participate in the "Think Pink" campaign.

On Oct. 17, the Dispatch will be printing a portion of the Oct. 17 issue on pink paper. All donors of $5 or more will receive a pink ribbon to wear and will have their names published in a list of donors in the Friday "Pink" edition. Donate anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays by stopping at the Dispatch office, 506 James St., Brainerd.

The Dispatch's Web site, www.brainerddispatch.com, will feature a pink home page on Oct. 17.

On Oct. 12, there will be a pink ribbon insert in the Dispatch for readers to post in their windows. It will be inserted in the Aitkin Independent Age and Crosby Courier newspapers on Oct. 1.

Watch for interviews in October on "Lakes Splash," the local access television channel, about this "Think Pink" campaign.

Oct. 14 will be "Pink Day" at Brainerd area schools.

Pink Empowerment, a women's wellness event, is planned for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 23 at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin.

The Dispatch secured the donation of a mobile mammogram unit to provide free examinations to lakes area women.

The unit is being donated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

For more information, call Kelly Simons at (218) 927-6962 or e-mail her at gks81501@charter.net.

Other "Think Pink" partners include Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd and Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin.