Jerome AZ (June 12, 2012) – The 2012 Pink Heals Tour arrives July 27, 2012 to the Cottonwood Food City parking lot, an event sponsor along with the Town of Jerome and the Arizona fire departments of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Jerome and Montezuma-Rimrock.

The Guardians of the Ribbon will drive pink fire trucks into the Verde Valley to kick-off its annual Pink Heals Tour before journeying across country visiting cities and towns with its Cares Enough to Wear Pink campaign. The Guardians dress in pink fire gear, symbolic of their support of all healthy women and those fighting cancer.

The Cares Enough to Wear Pink campaign goal is to generate assistance funds for women struggling with cancer in the Verde Valley. All event proceeds are donated to the Pink Heals Fund at the Foundation at Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, Arizona, a fund established to address the unmet needs of these valiant women.

Sedonan Jim Franckowiak visits the Guardians of the Ribbon tour in Jerome 2010

Pink Heals assistance is available for prosthetics and wigs and or meeting financial obligations such as medical bills, rent, utilities, and related family needs. The fund assisted three women in the Verde Valley dealing with cancer-related financial issues last year.

The Manzanita Inn, Vinnie’s, Verde Lea and Food City will provide food from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for those that donate $5.00 or more to the fund.  Tee shirts commemorating the event are for sale at Food City, Gisele’s Café and Bakery in Jerome, and at the fire stations in Clarkdale, Cottonwood, and Montezuma-Rimrock. The cost is $15 for a Tee shirt.

The Cornville Switchbacks will provide musical entertainment from 7:00 until 9:00 PM.

Free cancer and related issues information will be available during the event.

Anyone wishing to participate in the 2012 Pink Heals Tour Kickoff event can contact:

• Joe Moore, Clarkdale Fire Department at 928-634-4591
• Rick Contreras, Cottonwood Fire Department at 928-634-2741
• Angelina Boettcher, Food City at 928-634-4281
• Rosemarie Shemaitis, Town of Jerome at 928-634-7943
• Tom Robison, Montezuma-Rimrock Fire Department at 928-567-7428
• Deanna King at 928-300-2781.

Applications for assistance from the Pink Heals Fund are available at the Foundation at Verde Valley Medical Center, 928-639-6036, or by calling Rosemarie Shemaitis, Town of Jerome at 928-634-7943. Donations may be made directly to the Foundation.

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