The Power of Pink has aimed to help those diagnosed with breast cancer since 2010 by not only helping them find their power, but helping with costs associated with the difficult diagnosis.

Janice McCracken, founder of Power of Pink, started the organization with her husband and two daughters back in 2010, when they owned the Gizmo Event Center in Wheaton.

McCracken said it all started when she and her husband were going to rodeos and Wrangler had started Tough Enough to Wear Pink.

“I came home and told my husband that I wanted to start something like that, but I wanted to keep all the money in our area,” she said. “I let people start nominating women who needed help, and it has just grown from there.”

The Power of Pink walk and banquet came the following year in 2011.

Four women were nominated to receive funds that McCracken had built over the year. Each woman received $2,150.

Over the 13 years for Power of Pink and the 12 years for the walk, 44 women have received assistance, sharing a total of $321,770.68 in donations.

This year, five women received a total of $10,030.63 each.

Ashley Matern, of Cassville, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November. She found a lump, and within a few days, went to the doctor. She had her first mammogram, an MRI, and a biopsy. Matern spent six months in chemo, surgeries and radiation.

Her family was a huge source of support for her, and she said although it is a hard road, she takes it one step at a time. Kathleen Mueller, a mom of three and wife for 27 years, said her husband found a lump in her right breast, and her doctor scheduled her mammogram and ultrasound on July 7, 2021, followed by a biopsy on July 15.

On July 19, she was diagnosed with Metaplastic Carcinoma Triple Negative breast cancer. On Aug. 31, 2021, Mueller began her weekly chemo treatments, and on Nov. 30, she started her second round of chemo. By Jan. 31 this year, her oncologist was pleased with the amount the tumor had shrunk and scheduled her surgery for Feb. 15, with radiation to follow.

She said God walked with her through her journey every day.

Helen Wink, a 59-year-old mother of two, and grandmother to three, received her diagnosis of breast cancer in October 2021. She found a lump inner left breast, and after an ultrasound and a biopsy, she was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

Her treatment consisted of the first round of chemo and immunotherapy, which lasted for 12 weeks, a second round of a more aggressive chemo for 12 weeks, followed by a double mastectomy, radiation and more chemotherapy. Wink said her journey will not end when she beats cancer, but she will have a lifelong journey for the women who have come before her and those who will come after her.

Connie Blish, is a 56-year-old widow with four children and seven grandchildren. She found her breast cancer in May 2019 and underwent a lumpectomy to remove the cancer, followed by radiation treatments. Blish was cancer-free for more than a year before she got the second call that changed her life — she had invasive breast cancer and it was spreading.

She had a double mastectomy on Jan. 20. Blish has her friends and family to help her through this journey, but she said she puts it all in God’s hands.

Susan Courtney had recently graduated from college to become a teacher, when COVID-19 hit, but the biggest hit came in November 2020 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She received chemo, surgery, and biopsies quickly to get ahead of the aggressive cancer.

More surgeries and radiation followed. Courtney is still on her painful path, but she has decided to stay positive and enjoy everything along the way.

McCracken said that the year, Freedom Bank paid for every employee to walk.

“A lot of people helped out to make sure people came to the walk,” she said. “The more we have kept going, the more people are getting behind us and people and businesses are supporting us.”

McCracken said Power of Pink is still working with Plunder Jewelry, which donated $10,000 and sent 300 pieces of jewelry for the gift bags for the registered walkers.

“When we reached 500 registered walkers, Plunder sent more jewelry,” she said. “This year, we had more than 500 pre-registered walkers, and we had many more sign up the day of the walk.”

Nominations for the 2023 Pink ladies are now open.

“I will start contacting those ladies after the holidays,” McCracken said. “There is no limit to the number of nominations we will take. We want to make a difference with the amount of money we can give them to help take some stress out of their lives.

“God has always provided, and we have never turned anyone away.”

McCracken said it always amazes her how much Power of Pink has grown through the years.

“I am so thankful for all of those who join in and help,” she said. “It is touching to see those ladies that you have helped in the past come back and offer their help for the next year’s recipients.

“We are blessed with so many people who understand what we are doing and want to help those women. God has blessed this, and I and thankful for that.”

To register for the walk and run, people can visit http://www.gizmomccracken.com, and for more information, people may call 417-632-4797.

People may visit https://www.plunderdesign.com/ and purchase from their Pink collection that was released this week to help raise money for the Power of Pink, and for more information or to nominate someone, people may visit https://www.powerofpinkmo.com/.