Pink Warrior Angels thanks volunteers

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

 

A group of approximately 25 gathered at Bella Sera Italian Restaurant on Saturday, with their leader wanting to say two words to them: thank you.

 

Julie Moser, a breast cancer survivor, started the paperwork for the 501c(3) nonprofit Pink Warrior Angels in 2015 with a mission to help others facing the same disease. Moser, a mother and military spouse who had her own diagnosis of cancer in 2013, developed the nonprofit so others fighting cancer don’t feel alone.

 

During the past 10 months, she has assembled a lineup of volunteers who share her vision and have helped in large ways and small. That group has grown to more than 49 volunteers, with 18 attending the luncheon on Saturday.

 

The Pink Warrior Angels, or PWAs, have washed cars to raise funds for the nonprofit and last fall saw the first Pink Warrior Dash 5K in South Park, which saw approximately 100 participants turn out. The group recently had a Zumbathon, the planning of which was headed up by Kimmie Russell, a fellow breast cancer survivor and member of PWA’s executive board. In April, PWA held a gala called “Breast in Show”.

 

Moser has kept careful track of every individual PWA has helped as a result of the group’s fundraising and other efforts.

 

“We have supported over 30 breast cancer survivors since August 2015 as well as five other local cancer survivors,” Moser said. “We have provided gas money, housecleaning services, grocery money, cash donations, blankets, chemo care kits, mastectomy care kits, funeral transportation, flowers, monthly cards of encouragement, food/meals for families of a survivor and countless text messages and emails of support.”

 

Moser said PWA recently started an online support group breast cancer survivors, which has blossomed into a membership of 100. She said it’s a very active group and is an invitation-only group.

 

“We are also launching a stage IV metastatic breast cancer group and raising funds separately for them,” Moser said. “Stage IV describes invasive breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs of the body, such as the lungs, distant lymph nodes, skin, bones, liver, or brain. You may hear the words ‘advanced’ and ‘metastatic’ used to describe stage IV breast cancer. These ‘metavivors’ will be in treatments of the rest of their lives.”

 

PWA has a car wash scheduled in June, an inaugural golf tournament in the works for August 6 and the 2nd annual Pink Warrior Dash in October.

 

Bella Sera is now a platinum sponsor of Pink Warrior Angels, and on the 4th Thursday of every month, there will be a $5 lunch at the restaurant so others can hear about what the group is doing in the community, Moser said.

 

On Saturday, Laura Harris, Trinity Anthoney, Elizabeth Kellum, Luey Ramos, Catherine Sharbeno, Darcy Stanley, DaQuita Franklin, Donavan Taylor, Donna Fredericks, Scott Fredericks, Brandie Fredericks, Carleigh Ross, Delayna Parker, Kymberlie Valdueza, Wendy Sledd, Mexia Hopkins, Camryn Brown and Carlton Jones were all present to be recognized for their volunteer work through April 2016.