Pampering and Pink: Boxes of Hope Hosts First ‘Pink Warrior Day’ Event for Breast Cancer Warriors to Enjoy an Afternoon of Pampering, Empowerment, and Connection
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— Boxes of Hope, a breast cancer 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered at 18 E. Main Street, Suite 4 in downtown Lock Haven hosted its first Pink Warrior Day event on Saturday, October 12, exclusively for breast cancer warriors in need of some pampering.
Traci Fotorny, Founder and President of the organization, celebrated seven years of being a breast cancer survivor on October 13, a day she says will always be bittersweet. In a recent Facebook post, Fotorny said, “October 13th will always be a bittersweet day, and it will always be packed full of many emotions every year. It was the day that my feet officially started walking down a road that I didn’t want to walk,” she shared. “It was the day when I put on my boxing gloves and entered the ring for the hardest fight of my life, which was the fight for my life. It was the day when breast cancer showed up, and it was the day when God showed up bigger!”
Fotorny’s battle with breast cancer compelled her to establish Boxes of Hope (BoH). After finishing her treatment in 2019, she sent a “care package” filled with thoughtful and practical gifts to another woman undergoing similar treatment. The woman had been struggling through her treatments and nearly decided to give up altogether, but just when she was ready to quit her treatments and accept her fate, Fotorny’s care package arrived. After opening it, the woman told Fotorny, “It was like you sent me a box of hope.” Inspired by the woman’s response, Fotorny officially created and named her organization “Boxes of Hope.”
Having experienced how grueling breast cancer treatments can be, Fotorny invited breast cancer warriors to an afternoon of pampering and empowerment at Pink Warrior Day. Participants pre-registered for the event through a link posted on the BoH Facebook page, and the event was completely free to them.
Nine breast cancer warriors attended the afternoon of pampering, and each left with a gift bag filled with items to help them relax and pamper themselves at home.
During Pink Warrior Day, participants enjoyed professional hair styling or wig fitting in the hairstyle of their choice, courtesy of Susan Powlus and Amanda Long from The Hair Refinery Hair and Wig Salon at 206 Mary Avenue in Mill Hall. They also received professional makeup applications from Gillian and Courtney of Embellish Salon Studio LLC at 131 E. Main Street in Lock Haven.
After being pampered, the women were offered the chance to take part in a mini photoshoot with a professional photographer. They could choose to wear a pink gown or a pink boxing outfit, complete with hot pink boxing gloves—attire provided by BoH. The photo shoot was conducted by Hannah and Mitch from Hannah Vandegrift Photography.
Fotorny expressed that each participant looked stunning, showcasing their warrior beauty. Throughout the event, the women shared stories of their breast cancer journeys with one another while enjoying “pink snacks” provided by BoH.
“It was an amazing day! The ladies all seemed to bond with each other. It truly is a sisterhood with other breast cancer survivors,” Fotorny told The Record after the event. “My board members and I got emotional watching these beautiful warriors shine,” she added.
Because of the event’s success, Fotorny announced that Pink Warrior Day will become an annual tradition moving forward.
For more information about Boxes of Hope, to make a donation to the local 501c3 non-profit, or to explore volunteer opportunities, visit their website at www.boh4bc.org or connect with them on Facebook at facebook.com/PinkBoxesOfHope/. To ask questions or learn more about how you can help, contact Traci at (570) 502-2524 or info@boh4bc.org.
