PINK PROJECT President Doreen Koch holds a comfort bag and calendar of breast cancer survivors next to her quilt that remembers those who have died of the disease. The quilt is on display at J.C. Penney through October.
Derek WileyDoreen Koch is tired of adding squares to her quilt, which hangs in a display window at J.C. Penney in downtown The Dalles each October to remember those who’ve lost their battle with breast cancer.
Koch, who is the president of the Pink Project, started the quilt about seven years ago when her friend Treva Hoffman died of breast cancer. She was in her early 40s and left behind a 9-year-old son.
“That was really a blow,” Koch said. “She was such a sweet person.”
Since Hoffman’s passing, Koch has remained busy adding names to the memory quilt.
“There was just a bunch all at once and they weren’t old,” Koch said. “They were still in their prime and that’s what hurts. I’m constantly adding names. We have an awful lot of young women with breast cancer in this town. I’ll be glad when I don’t have to add any more names to the quilt.”
Koch started the Pink Project, a local charity that makes goodie bags to comfort women diagnosed with cancer, after surviving her own fight with the disease in 2006.
Koch was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001.
She was treated with radiation and hormones for five years. After nearly a year of no treatment, more cancer was discovered and Koch had a double mastectomy to remove it.
“It was very aggressive but they caught it really early and it was very small,” Koch said.
The public is invited to wear pink and join Koch and many other cancer survivors who will take part in Project Pink’s Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Saturday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m.
The walk will start at St. Peter’s Landmark, continue down Third Street and up Second. This will be the ninth annual walk. The event has grown from around 20 people in 2007 to nearly 150 last year.
After the walk, there will be a fundraiser at Burgerville. Raffle tickets will be sold for a special bracelet designed by JD Smith Jewelers in The Dalles as well as a gift bag.
“It’s really, really pretty,” Koch said of the bracelet.
October was named National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985. There are currently more than 2.8 million women in the U.S. with a history of breast cancer and more than 40,000 are expected to die this year alone.
Project Pink is always looking for volunteers. Anyone interested can contact Koch at 541-298-1602.
Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?)
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published.
Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today!
Receive weekly updates on obituaries and death notices.
Oregon Capital Press presented by Columbia Gorge News
Receive updates on upcoming promotions and special sections.
Receive weekly updates on local sports news.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
Commented