Pink Party A Feel-Good Moment For Cancer Survivor

WEST HARTFORD ? On Valentine's Day this year, 43-year-old Andrea Kranc of Colchester was diagnosed with breast cancer.

While she was learning of her diagnosis, her family was at the mall making her a personalized mug as a Valentine's Day gift of their appreciation.

"Every time I look at the mug it's a constant reminder of that day, and my diagnosis," she said.

After a double mastectomy, Kranc is now a cancer survivor, as is proudly displayed on the shirt she wore to Thursday's Pink Party in Blue Back Square to raise awareness of breast cancer.

The party was the first stop in Kranc's cancer survivorship weekend, as she called it. The other stops include a date with her husband to see Jason Alexander at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts and a family brunch for cancer survivors at the Backus Hospital in Norwich.

At the West Hartford celebration, she said she loved seeing the sea of pink. "It feels good that there's all the support for this," she said. "In my time of diagnosis, I've known three other people diagnosed."

The Pink Party, sponsored by The Hartford Courant and FOX CT, featured live music, food, pink hair styling and an emotional survivor fashion show to raise awareness of breast cancer.

A few dogs that had been painted for the occasion even made their way down the pink carpet. There was dancing in the streets, mingling and survivors sharing stories with each other.

Among the estimated 2,000 people in attendance were families, couples and groups on a girls' night out.

A portion of the proceeds from swag bags, food and donations will go support breast cancer research and local breast cancer programs through the Komen Connecticut organization.

Source: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-pink-party-1004-20131003,0,3525042.story?track=rss

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