Battling cancer, one ribbon at a time
Published 3:57 pm Monday, September 28, 2009
Diligence and patience for one Alabaster woman has led to more than $1,000 raised for the Susan G. Komen battle against cancer.
Patricia Bradberry, a resident of the Shelby Ridge Nursing Home in Alabaster, for the past several weeks has been selling homemade paper pink ribbons to hundreds of nursing home visitors in an attempt to raise money to combat cancer.
As of Sept. 28, Bradberry had raised more than $500 through the fundraiser, and had lined Shelby Ridge’s halls with several hundred pink ribbons.
“She cut out all the ribbons herself, and has sat out near the front entrance selling them every day,” Shelby Ridge Administrator Sharon Baker said of Bradberry. “Right now, she has raised just over $500, $1 at a time.
“If you come in here right now, there are pink ribbons lining all the halls,” Baker added Sept. 28. “Shelby Ridge is going to match however much she has raised at the end of the month, so that would be over $1,000 right now.”
Though Bradberry also sold the ribbons last year, she said this year’s fundraiser has been much more successful. The Shelby Ridge resident remained modest while speaking about the project.
“I’m just glad to help any way I can,” Bradberry said. “I lost my father to cancer, and (ABC 33/40 news anchor) Brenda Ladun has also been involved in the Walk for a Cure. She is such an inspiration to me.
“So many ladies have had it, and I just want to help,” Bradberry added. “People have just been so kind this year. I have been very pleased with the turnout.”
To wrap up the fundraiser, Bradberry and the Shelby Ridge staff will host a bake sale Sept. 30 from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the nursing home. The bake sale profits and all money generated from the ribbon sales will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
“We have already raised more money now than we did with the bake sale and everything last year,” Bradberry said Sept. 28. “I certainly don’t take credit for all of it, but I sure have enjoyed doing it.”
Though Bradberry said she did not want to take credit for the project, others have been praising the volunteer’s efforts.
“Her diligence to sit out there every day and ask everyone who comes in has just been amazing,” Baker said. “It’s very inspirational. This has been one of our more successful years with this.”