mesothelioma

By Kristofer Karol • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • June 5, 2009

If Michelle Vincent was going to paint the town pink, she knew she was going to have to do it in style.

That might explain the pink tutu on her head as she, and upward of 1,000 more came out to the Pink Party breast cancer benefit in downtown Howell on Thursday night.

"It's my daughter's tutu from her dress-up box," Vincent said with a laugh outside the party's base at the historical Livingston County Courthouse. "My girls will not be playing dress-up tonight."

The event featured dozens of activities and discounts at more than 40 downtown stores, restaurants, offices and service providers, including massages, pink hair dye, wine tasting, 15-minute yoga, and more. Proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure breast cancer foundation.

One of the first things Marion Township's Lora Garcelon hit up was the free massage chair at The Opera House.

"It was very relaxing ?it was one of the reasons I came," Garcelon said. "This is great. Everybody I talked to said, 'I'm going to the Pink Party.' "

Larger packs of pink-clad women were escorted by "man servants," decked out in tuxedoes. The man servants were responsible for ensuring the women had a good night, as well as offering them very frequent compliments, holding their bags and, in the case of Howell's Andy Michels, hopping into the bellydancing circle.

"My grandmother is a survivor ?it runs in the family, and I love women," Michels said of his participation, then jesting, "I've been doing bellydancing for going on 15 years."

Organizer Kim Wilson, who also operates Carriage House Designs in downtown Howell, was excited by the turnout, which, prior to the event, stood at 900 tickets. Tickets were also being sold at the event, making it too early to state how much money had been raised.

"I think it's just really good for the community to come together," said Wilson, donning a skirt with breast cancer survivors' names written onto it in marker.

Howell's Shelly Peach is a breast cancer survivor. She said she came out because she knew she would have a fun time.

It also helped she had a group of about 10 friends with her.

"I think it's wonderful," Peach said of her group's participation. "They're all supporting me."