Imagine standing alone at 7:30 a.m. in the center of El Paseo on a Saturday morning in October. There's not a car in sight. The street is blocked off from end to end. And there is complete silence, except for the sounds of a few dogs and their walkers.
Then little by little, there is a rumble of noise. It grows louder and is soon accompanied by music. Then an open topped convertible slowly inches its way toward me. It's followed by a tsunami of about 3,000 figures in pink. It's an incredible sight. As tears stream down my face while I take a second to think of those who are gone or still suffering, the harsh reality hits me that there is no end in sight for this brutal disease.
Otherwise, all of these pink-clad people filling the street would
be celebrating instead of walking for this important cause.
An occasion to remember
The cause was cancer awareness. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of Paint El Paseo Pink.
For 20 years now the City of Palm Desert and Desert Cancer Foundation have worked together alongside many of the merchants on El Paseo, as well as the local medical community, the local police and fire departments plus groups of women and men from all walks of life to promote cancer awareness and raise money to help cover the costs of treatment for those who can't afford it.
Cancer does not care who it invades. It can affect breastfeeding mothers and even cancer doctors. But there is good news. Many new trials and advanced treatments are being found all the time. For instance, there is new hope for stage 4 metastatic triple negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive type that has baffled doctors for years.
This research and these new treatments are not funded by the government; the money is raised at events like Paint El Paseo Pink.
This year's parade grand marshal was Raju Mehta, owner of El Paseo Jewelers and a long time supporter of various causes. Emcee was Olivia Sandusky, a three-time Emmy Award-winning news anchor, who looked radiant in pink on the grand marshal's car. The event's title sponsor was Joe Timo, owner of Timo's Air Conditioning & Heating.
Thank you to Elyssa Goldberg, a survivor and thriver who has had a business on El Paseo for more than 30 years and who uses her spare time to help others. Thank you also to Teresa Whipple from the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, who works tirelessly with cancer patients year round and is very involved in PEPP. And thanks to Mark Scheibach, executive director of Desert Cancer Foundation.
This year, the number of teams registered to compete in the event doubled. The following are the top three winners. Drum roll, please: In first place, with $46,850 collected, was Team PDG, Palm Desert Greens. Second place went to Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters, who collected $31,500, and Team BG on El Paseo was awarded third place for its collection of $10,000.
All proceeds raised from Paint El Paseo Pink will benefit Desert Cancer Foundation’s Patient Assistance Programs for cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment services for local valley residents who are uninsured, under-insured and in need of financial assistance.
To learn more or to make a donation, visit desertcancerfoundation.org.
Carole Stephen-Smith began writing in Scotland for a women's weekly at the age of 15 and later covered American celebrities for the London Evening Echo. After relocating to the desert, she wrote for Desert Woman in the 1990s. Stephen-Smith focuses on charities that assist women, medical causes — especially breast cancer awareness — and all aspects of child abuse.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Paint El Paseo Pink celebrates 20 years
