A few Red Deer women have found a way to do their part to raise money to find a cure for cancer.

They call themselves ‘Perky in Pink’ and have participated in the Weekend To End Women’s Cancer in Calgary for six years now.

The 12 ladies are doing their part to help with a steak and lobster cabaret on May 7 at the Blackfalds Multi-Plex starting at 6:30 p.m. with special guest St. James Gate performing. They hope to raise money for the walk that takes place in Calgary on July 23-24.

Carolyn Cota, team captain of ‘Perky in Pink’, has been walking with her daughter, sister Shelley Cota and Shelley’s daughter now for the six years and said there is no feeling like it.

“We all do the walk for our own different reasons,” said Carolyn.

“None of us have had breast cancer, but it has affected everyone of our lives differently.”

The Weekend To End Women’s Cancer is a two-day event and participants walk a total of 60 kms. Each participant has to raise $2,000 in pledges or by fundraising for the walk.

‘Perky in Pink’ has raised over $110,000 in the six years of participating.

“It is something that I believe in so much that it gets easier each year,” said Carolyn. “It is hard to walk 60 kms in a weekend. You are full of blisters and you are tired, but there is so much support along the way and you meet people who are suffering or going through chemotherapy or have lost wives, mothers, or friends and we are just walking so we can do this small thing to help.”

All the money from the cabaret and other fundraising goes to the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Tom Baker Centre.

For the team’s upcoming fundraiser, along with the dinner and dance there will be silent auction items up for bid during the cabaret.

“The fundraising we do is fun and it is not like we are scrubbing toilets, although we might for money, but we do bake sales, and sell flowers among other things,” said Shelley. “You meet a lot of people along the way and it makes it more interesting.”

Both sisters have recruited other members and are always welcoming new members into the group.

“I don’t know how I can stop doing this walk,” said Carolyn. “Walking 60 kms and meeting all these people changes your life. It changes what is really important and makes you really think about all the people you lost and why you do this so you have to live everyday because you never know.”

To purchase tickets or to find out how you can get involved with ‘Perky in Pink’ you can either call Carolyn Cota at 403-588-3044 or Shelley Cota at 403-350-3259.

You can also visit The Fisherman’s Pride or Global Overhead Doors in Red Deer or Reflections in Lacombe for cabaret tickets.

tsigurdson@reddeerexpress.com