This morning, an estimated 200 gathered at Perry Square in downtown Erie for a 10 a.m. ceremony to "turn the fountain pink" in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can read the whole story here.

It was a sea of pink -- men and women -- except for this hapless blogger in lavender and black who never thought to wear pink (color me clueless).

The ceremony itself was a who's who in Erie with everyone who's anyone coming out to support this worthy cause (or at least anyone who's anyone who could get out of the office!).

The program began with an introduction by Linda Stevenson, senior vice president at National City Bank and a long-time advocate for local women and women in business.

Stevenson addresses the audience.

The Mayor said a few words and then turned the microphone over to breast cancer survivor, Patty Stempka, a car salesperson at Ferraro Ford in North East and a 1 year+ cancer survivor. As Patty spoke, her family in the audience held up a homemade "We Love You Aunt Patty!" banner to show their support. Patty said that 1 in 7 women in Pennsylvania will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but it is no longer the death sentence it once was.

Breast cancer survivor Patty Stempka who has been cancer free for over a year.

After Patty, Tonya Carpenter -- a 39-year-old, 5-year breast cancer survivor spoke about her experience having been diagnosed at 34. She encouraged women under 40 who do not typically get breast-exams -- to be vigilant about self-exams and to fight for a mammogram if they feel something is wrong. "There are no do-overs. It's your life. Fight for it."

Breast cancer survivor Tonya Carpenter who has been cancer free for 5 years.

The crowd then gathered around the fountain as the Mayor and members of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women squirted dye into the waters surrounding the fountain.

Mayor Joe Sinnott and members of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women squirt dye into the fountain.

The fountain -- not quite pink, yet...but getting there.

Stevenson didn't stop at Perry Square. She persuaded several local businesses, including the Times Publishing Company and Stairways Behavioral Health, to dye their fountains pink as well.

Here's the Erie Times-News' fountain.

Another -- even pinker -- view of the Erie Times-News' fountain.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
Saturday is the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk at the Cruise Boat Terminal on Erie's bayfront. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.