Think Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to show its support Lenoir City Pool's pool bubble will be lit up in pink.

The pool will remain lit until around midnight every night, said Parks and Recreation Director Steve Harrelson, so people can come by and notice it.

"Its sort of hit home with a lot of city employees," Harrelson said of this year's awareness month. Long time city employee Maggie Hunt has been going through treatments and the city decided they wanted to make a big effort to raise awareness and funds to go towards breast cancer research. "We really jumped on board and wanted to make a special interest in it this year," Harrelson said.

Breast Cancer Awareness night will take place at the Oct. 15 Lenoir City High School football game where the city will take donations for the cause and have some type of recognition at half time.

That Saturday, Oct. 16 will be free swim day at the pool from noon to 5 p.m. with donations accepted. "Every dime we take in next weekend will go towards breast cancer research," Harrelson said.

All the money raised will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure at the Race For the Cure in Knoxville when around 35 people participate as "Maggie's Militia."

"It seems to really be doing well the pool bubbles getting a lot of recognition, we're getting a lot of calls from people showing their support for what we're doing this month. I think in the future we'll continue to make October a special month for the city," Harrelson said. Donation boxes are also located at the Park and Recreation Office and City Hall.

Lenoir City turns pool pink

WBIR.com

Pink has been a popular color in East Tennessee this October. People are using it in many different ways to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

City employees in Lenoir City used the color to create a message that's more than 100 feet long to show support to a colleague that was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"When she came down with cancer this year it was really touchy for us," said Lenoir City Parks and Recreation Director Steve Harrelson.

Maggie Hunt, a chief deputy clerk for Lenoir City, learned she had breast cancer in March. Instead of thinking outside the box, the city's parks and recreation department thought outside the bubble.

Pink covers were placed over the lights inside the bubble that covers the Lenoir City Pool during Fall and Winter. The white bubble turns pink when the lights are turned on at night.

"It just made me cry," Hunt explained. "You just tear up when you think of people helping you like now. It just means a lot to everybody. Not just myself, but to everybody fighting the same battle I am."

A group called Maggie's Militia was formed to support Hunt. The members will run in this year's Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. Maggie's Militia will be taking donations at Lenoir City High School Friday night to sponsor their run. The team will also be collecting donations during a free swim day on Saturday at the Lenoir City Pool.