October is breast cancer awareness month. Paint Taos Pink runs from October 8th – 22nd and is in its third year of raising awareness and funds to support members of our community impacted by all types of cancer. Each year Cancer Support Services seems to raise the bar on fun, innovative give-back events that bring Taos together not only in supporting but celebrating our fellow Taoseños battling the disease.
This year, on Wednesday October 19th they’re hosting a secret gourmet supper prepared by chef Chris Maher of Cooking Studio Taos to thank donors of the program for all of their generous support. I caught up with Cat Legere to find out more about this mysterious event and what else Paint Taos Pink has in store for us this coming week.
This is the first year for Paint Taos Pink’s secret supper. The event is the brainchild of Cancer Support Services’ Jason Pfeifer, working in collaboration with Valerie and Chris Maher and Cat Legere. It’s a five course meal prepared at a secret in town location (only to be revealed via email the morning of the event!) for supporters who donate $125 or more to Cancer Support Services.
There are still some seats left, so for those of you that don’t need to know anything more, make your reservations right now by clicking HERE.
If you’re intrigued but perhaps on the fence, Cat eloquently speaks of the event as an expression of gratitude.
“The idea is that folks who care about improving the quality of life of people in our community experiencing cancer have an opportunity to make a nice donation to the program and get treated to a wonderful experience in gratitude. We could not have done this without the strong support of Valerie and Chris at Cooking Studio Taos who are donating their time, their support, and their distribution list to help us reach a broad food-loving audience. It’s a big deal.”
And if like me, you just can’t help but wonder where this amazing evening might take place, Cat did disclose this tantalizing smidgeon.
“Our secret location is also being completely generous in allowing us to use their excellent kitchen and warm, historic dining areas to host this event. The secret location is in town, but out of sight, surrounded by aspen and cottonwood, an excellent spot to gather together to celebrate the work of Cancer Support Services programs and socialize over a thoughtful and delicious five course meal with wine.”
Yummy!
In addition to the oh-so-secret supper, Paint Taos Pink is also hosting their third annual Pink Party and Silent Auction on Friday October 14th at the SOMOS Salon with the musical stylings of Bob Andrews, light drinks and appetizers, and bidding on fun fantastic local items.
But wait, there’s more. I doubt there’s a person in this town that hasn’t heard about the Zumba Pink Party, now in its fourth year, organized by our resident Zumba aficionados Jessica and Carlos.
This year the Zumba party is at Enos Garcia Gym Saturday October 14th 11 a.m – 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door, there’s a raffle, and all proceeds — as with all of the events listed above — go directly to benefit Cancer Support Services. Cat speaks of the Zumba party as sort of the flagship event, saying that it’s “been the guiding light about how to hold a give back event. [Jessica & Carlos] put on a big, noisy, sweaty and very fun party, raffle off great gifts to ticket holders, and it’s just a hoot.”
For a full list of Paint Taos Pink activities and community partners, visit their website .
Finally, I asked Cat about her favorite thing about Paint Taos Pink. Her response embodies the heart and success of the event.
“[My favorite thing is] all the community excitement around supporting one another through a trying and difficult experience like cancer. It’s nice to feel like you’re celebrating as a community. Even though the idea of cancer means we are losing loved ones some of the time, those who make it have such great vitality and passion for coming together to support the next group who are having that similar experience. Having a dozen unaffiliated community members voluntarily produce special events and classes to give back to our cause is a really big uplifting gesture. Their effort combined with Cancer Support Services events means more funding for the programming that directly touches and impacts people in our community.”