Breast cancer survivor looks to turn town pink
MONROE — When Bonnie Maur found a lump in her breast more than 14 years ago, she was terrified.
“I knew — I just knew it was cancer,” said Maur, 62. “But I still waited a few weeks before I went to the doctor, out of fear.”
Maur is a 14-year-survivor of breast cancer. Since her ordeal, she has participated in multiple events to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. Now she wants to do alleviate women’s anxiety about breast cancer.
The Monroe woman is spearheading an effort to turn her town pink. Many municipalities in Connecticut and nationwide have launched “Paint the Town Pink” initiatives for businesses and communities to provide
fundraisers, educational programs and more during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Maur said she noticed other communities, including Hamden and the Lower Naugatuck Valley, have “pink” programs in the fall.
“I started asking around and I thought, ‘There’s no reason we can’t do that here,’ ” she said.
She has already spoken to Monroe First Selectman Kenneth Kellogg, who said he fully supports Maur’s efforts.
“Bonnie has a wonderful story and great ideas,” he said. “(Events like this) raise the consciousness of people. We want to promote wellness and make sure people are getting proper checkups.”
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women after skin cancers. The society estimates that, nationwide, in 2019, about 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and about 41,760 women will die from breast cancer.
Pink has long been associated with breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen foundation adopted pink as the color of its programs in the 1990s. The breast cancer awareness movement later took on the pink ribbon as its symbol, due largely to the efforts
of a breast cancer patient named Charlotte Hayley, who originally began mak- ing peach-colored ribbons in her home. “Self ” magazine reportedly latched onto the idea, and used a pink ribbon in an issue promoting breast cancer awareness.
Today, pink is nearly inseparable from the breast cancer awareness movement and, in Connecticut, Stamford, the Naugatuck Valley and other communities have had success launching town-wide pink programs.
Maur’s vision for painting Monroe pink is in its infancy, but she hopes to work with such organizations as the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library and the Monroe Farmer’s Market to offer programming.
“I’m hoping to bring in the community in different ways,” she said, encouraging area business to donate a percentage of a day’s profits to breast cancer research, or restaurants will offer a pink cocktail in support of the effort.
Maur has contacted the
American Cancer Society about her plan, and is looking for about 30 to 35 volunteers to help her bring her pink dreams into reality. Her whole goal, she said, is reaching out to make sure others know that cancer is survivable.
In her experience, Maur said, a lot of people still think a breast cancer diagnosis is a death sentence, even though the American Cancer Society reports that death rates from female breast cancer dropped 40 percent nationwide between
1989 and 2016.
She said diagnosis and treatment have improved even since she was diagnosed. Maur hopes to use “Monroe Goes Pink” as a springboard for connecting people with information.
“We need to help people understand what resources are available to them,” she said.
Those interested in helping Maur with her “Paint Monroe Pink” campaign can contact her at maurb@sacredheart.edu or call 203339-1753.