òòò½ÊÓƵ

Saturday evening at the Victoria Community Center, men and women dressed in lavish formal wear attended the Project Tickled Pink Fundraiser Gala. Inside, black and pink feather and golden centerpieces decorated the tables.

And the famous bright pink firetruck, Debbie herself, got dressed up for a great event for a great cause.

Last year, the fundraiser came in the form of a casino night and raised between $50,000-60,000, said Jay Young, Executive Director of the Guardians of Hope and cancer survivor.

The chairman of this yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s event and also a cancer survivor, Cortland Johnson, decided to glam up the event once more, following the elegant vibe of the previous year. The masquerade gala invited attendees to dress to the nines.

Officials of The Project Tickled Pink organize the event to honor and celebrate 12 individuals who have been diagnosed with any type of cancer and who will receive financial assistance from the money raised. The donated funds go not only to costly treatments, but to hotel stays for an extended time for patientsòòò½ÊÓƵ™ families and also for everyday necessities.

Cancer not only threatens individual lives, but it can also drain their savings while battling the disease. Project Tickled Pink steps up to help those who are nominated by a friend, colleague or family member.

Not only do the nominees receive this assistance, they are celebrated in many ways. They are taken by limo to Hair Dimensions and given a full makeover; even those without hair received scalp massages. Glammed up and feeling beautiful, they were then treated to a full professional photography session so they may remember how beautiful they are, inside and out.

The nominees include mothers, grandmothers, young women just starting their lives and even a child who was diagnosed at 10 months old.

Young was also among the nominees, having been diagnosed with kidney cancer.

òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m normally just the guy who gets to drive Debbie around,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Young said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m lucky; my experience on the other side was quick.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Young felt his experience emphasized how important his work is to everyone involved.

During the fundraiser, a video played, sharing what these brave people have gone through and how they are still living lives that are filled with light, joy and love.

This year, the Guardians of Hope hoped to raise over $100,000, though much of it depended upon silent auctions and live auctions conducted during the event.

This yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s silent auction, which included gift baskets, homemade items such as signs and crocheted projects, preceded the live auction. Live auction items included hunting trips and luxury vacation trips abroad, including to Mexico and South America.

While the Tickled Pink Project is nationwide, the Guardians of Hope keep all funds within the Crossroads.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThe money goes to our community, raised by our community,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Young said.