PORT ANGELES — Champagne bottle corks will pop as the seventh annual Pink Up Port Angeles campaign begins today.
The Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Noon Club has organized a weeklong fundraiser to benefit Operation Uplift, a Port Angeles-based nonprofit cancer support group.
During the week, which begins today and continues through June 26, the city will bloom in a proliferation of pink ribbons, pink storefronts and pink decor.
It will even have, temporarily, a new name.
On Tuesday, the City Council approved a proclamation changing the city’s name to “Pink Angeles” for the duration of the Pink Up campaign.
In 2014, the fundraiser brought in about $35,000 — a drop from the $50,000 raised in 2013, said Linda deBord, coordinator.
“This year, I want to get it back up to $50,000,” deBord said.
Pink champagne
This year’s activities include a new celebration: Pink Champagne on Ice, which will kick off the week today.
Champagne cocktails prepared by 10 area restaurants will be served with hors d’oeuvres and music by the Jimmy Hoffman Band at the Eagles Club, 2843 E. Myrtle St. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the music will start at 7 p.m.
Tickets to the event are $50.
Guests will vote for their favorite champagne recipes, and gift baskets will be auctioned.
Pink Champagne on Ice is sponsored by Olympic Peninsula Title.
Saturday
On Saturday, pink ribbons will go up all over town — including on police cars and other city vehicles — and merchants can start decorating windows for judging.
Businesses have until Wednesday to complete their decorations, when Laurel Black Design will begin judging the window themes.
A bake sale will begin at 10 a.m. at Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St.
The sale will continue until all baked goods are sold out.
A free breast health clinic will be hosted at Olympic Medical Imaging Center, 1102 E. Front St.
Staffed by members of Operation Uplift, the clinic will include free mammograms as needed for women without insurance or who are underinsured.
The clinic is available only by appointment via 360-417-5141.
Sunday
The fourth annual Dennis Wilcox Pooch and Papa Walk along the Waterfront Trail will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.
The walk for dogs and their owners on Father’s Day will begin on the trail in front of the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St., and end at Francis Street Park.
The entry fee is $30.
Photographs will be taken, and participants will receive completion certificates.
Pink Up will provide a treat bag and bandana for the dog, as well as a T-shirt for the human companion.
Preregistration is asked so that organizers can ensure correct T-shirts sizes are available for all walkers. To preregister, phone 360-477-8479.
Walkers also can sign up at the event.
The walk is sponsored by Randy’s Auto Sales and Motorsports, Windermere Real Estate and Kathleen Graf, LMP.
Wednesday
Beginning at 6 p.m., Pink Out the Pier will offer information, freebies and cookies at a table at the Concert on the Pier.
While Strait Shots performs classic rock ‘n’ roll on City Pier at the north end of Lincoln Street, Soroptimist members will offer a table of freebies, cookies and information for cancer survivors.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 8 p.m.
Information will be offered on cancer prevention, detection and treatment, deBord said.
Pink items — including jewelry and clothing — will be offered. Some will be sold, while donations will be requested for others, deBord said.
Pink Out the Pier is sponsored by Rudy’s Automotive.
Thursday
Pink Out’s biggest fundraising event is always the spaghetti dinner at Chestnut Cottage, 929 E. Front St.
The Thursday meal from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. will feature “waiters” who are well-known members of the community.
They will compete for tips as they serve a $10 dinner of salad, garlic bread and spaghetti.
All tips are donated to Operation Uplift.
Dessert, wine and beer will be available for an additional fee.
A gift basket worth more than $400 from Franni’s Gift Expressions will be raffled, deBord said.
Raffle tickets are $1 each.
The Chestnut Cottage takeover is sponsored by First Federal.
Friday, June 26
The 11th annual Soroptimist Golf Tournament at the Peninsula Golf Club, 824 S. Lindberg Road, will begin with a shotgun start at noon Friday, June 26.
The cost is $95, or $60 for members of the golf club.
Prizes will be awarded for a hole-in-one, closest to the pin and longest drive.
To register or for more information, phone Jacob Lippold at the club at 360-457-6501.
Prizes are sponsored by the Mac Ruddell Community Fund.
Quilt raffled
At the tournament, the drawing will be held for a raffle of a queen-sized quilt created by Rita Rudder.
Raffle tickets for the hand-stitched quilt, made with a lot of pink and in a cancer survivor theme, are $5 or three for $10.
Tickets are available from Soroptimists members and will be available at all the fundraising events, deBord said.
“We’ve already sold 250,” she said earlier this week.
On Saturday, June 27, Soroptimists will “de-pink” Port Angeles, taking down ribbons around town.
All proceeds from the Pink Up campaign will go to the grass-roots Operation Uplift, founded in 1983.
The group is run by volunteers and provides services and information to cancer survivors in the local area.
For more information on Pink Up Port Angeles, visit Soroptimist International of Port Angeles’ Facebook page.
For more information on Operation Uplift, visit the office at 118 N. Liberty St., Suite B, or phone 360-457-5141.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
