VIENNA - Hundreds of area women turned out Friday to learn more about businesses, products and services available for them in the Mid-Ohio Valley while also supporting breast cancer research.
The eighth annual Mid-Ohio Valley In The Pink Celebration for Women was held at Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna. Organized by Suddenlink Media, the $5 admission paid by attendees goes Susan G. Komen for the Cure to benefit breast cancer research.
Todd Fouty, general sales manager with Suddenlink Media, said the women's conference began eight years ago at the former Parkersburg Holiday Inn and has been held at Grand Pointe for the past several years. The event follows the same program each year, bringing together local women and local vendors, programs and businesses with products and services of interest to them, he said.
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Photo by Wayne Towner
Mary Shuman, front, of Vienna, gets a massage from Robin Lilly, rear, of Bodyworks Therapies of Parkersburg, during Friday’s Mid-Ohio Valley In The Pink event at Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna.
"There's not a lot of events such as this where vendors can actually go in and sell their wares, so to speak. That's what we give them the opportunity to do here," Fouty said.
Amanda Brundage, of Mineral Wells, has been attending the In the Pink event each year since it started.
"I like it a lot," she said, adding with a laugh that her favorite part is the free massages and "pampering."
Fact Box
Event Details
- ?The eighth annual Mid-Ohio Valley In the Pink event ran from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday at Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna.
- ?Admission proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure to benefit breast cancer research.
"There are a lot of different things that you don't know are around in the area," she said of the products and services featured at In The Pink.
Brundage also likes the support provided to breast cancer awareness by the event, since she knows women who have been or are being affected by breast cancer.
"I support it every bit," she said.
Vienna resident Mary Shuman was enjoying one of the massage demonstrations on Friday afternoon. She has been coming to In The Pink for the entire eight years and said that is one of her favorite parts.
"I like seeing what's new, that's always nice. It's improved every year, it's grown," she said of the event.
Doris Hodge, formerly of Wood County and now living in Lake Placid, Fla., was attending Friday's event for the first time.
"I'm having a wonderful time," she said. "I've enjoyed it all, so far, especially the little treats."
Donna DeHart, executive director of Susan G. Komen West Virginia, is appreciative of the support shown by In the Pink and similar programs throughout the state.
"I think this is one of the largest ones I've seen," she said of Friday's event in Vienna.
In addition to the ticket proceeds, the West Virginia affiliate was selling shirts and other items to raise awareness of breast cancer.
"All of the money that we raise here will go to Susan G. Komen and that money will stay in West Virginia to help women that are under-insured and non-insured so that they can get mammograms and other health care they need," she said.
