Painting the Town Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

Kathleen van Rijn has something she feels genuinely passionate about – as a two-time breast cancer survivor, this Wickford resident does all she can to help the cause. She founded Team Lion Heart, which participates in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure each September in New York; last year over 90 participants joined her. Now, she’s throwing a spectacular event right in South Kingstown.

“My goal is to raise money for breast cancer research,” says van Rijn, “and for breast cancer awareness.” Her Paint the Town Pink event, to be held on February 11 at the Holiday Inn’s grand ballroom, is poised to accomplish both, and then some. From 7-11pm, partygoers will dance the night away. “We have an amazing local DJ and people are really going to be out on the floor. We want to dance breast cancer out of town,” van Rijn states emphatically.

In addition to shaking their tail feathers, party revelers can look forward to a true carnival experience complete with activities suitable for the whole family. The lineup includes: a bean bag toss, tarot card readings, face painting, a caricature artist and temporary tattoos. For the adults, there will be a cash bar plus a silent auction and raffle.

“I think people are really going to be excited about the prizes we’re auctioning and raffling off,” van Rijn says. Auction items include a weekend in New York at a luxury hotel and dinner at a four-star French bistro, as well as a day of sailing on Narragansett Bay. Raffle items include a watch, some jewelry pieces and a gift basket donated by Wickford’s Blue Hydrangea. There’s something for everyone, and all profits go towards a great cause.

Event sponsors are Adornment Fine Jewelry, Spa Mosaic and Sea Mist Skin Rejuvenation Center – all of which are located inside South County Commons. Van Rijn is grateful to have sponsors helping to turn her dream into a reality. When a community bands together, great things are made possible.

Event tickets are $20 and will be available at the door. “This is an opportunity for us in South County to raise money and have some fun during the process – in February, in Rhode Island,” van Rijn says with a laugh. She hopes to have a good turnout and believes that by sharing her story, she can help other women avoid cancer through early detection and preventative medicine, or at the very least, become survivors. For more information, call van Rijn at 401-338-5145. Or just show up on February 11, ready to party the night away.