Raft for a Cure

Pink and white just go together.

Later this month, Susan G. Komen of Chattanooga will take its pink ribbons to the Ocoee's whitewater as part of Wildwater Adventures' sixth annual Raft for the Cure.

On Aug. 25, Wildwater will donate about a quarter of proceeds from its Ocoee rafting trips, as well as contributions from sponsors to help Komen's Chattanooga affiliate research breast cancer.

"They have their Race for the Cure, they have their Walk for the Cure, but I think pairing it with an adventure sport is really part of the draw," says Jan Beck, marketing coordinator for Wildwater's Ocoee center.

The event will feature a cancer survivor rafting trip around 2 p.m., a reception afterward, plus plenty of pink shirts. "They don't last very long because everyone wants one," Beck said of the shirts.

Carolyn Allison, a spokeswoman for Wildwater, said the idea came from a West Virginia rafting company after the owner's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She said it's picked up steam because the disease has touched so many people. "Breast cancer hits everybody at almost any level - there's always going to be a connection," Allison says. "It's a really fun way to raise money."

Jennifer Matthews, affiliate coordinator for Komen Chattanooga, says she appreciates the donations and loves the rafters' creativity. "There's no right or wrong way to fundraise," she says. "Whether you want to have a pink yard sale or rafting, the sky is the limit."

For more information visit www.wildwaterrafting.com

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