Hamilton Place turns pink in support of breast cancer awareness

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Hamilton Place Mall turned pink in support of breast cancer awareness on Saturday, Sept. 16.

The Susan G. Komen “MORE THAN PINK WALK” was hosted at the mall for the second year.  

“The mall has always been a place for community, a place for the community to gather. So partnering with Susan G. Komen for this event just made perfect sense. We are so thrilled to have them here for the second year in a row. We can’t wait for next year,” Spokesperson for CBL Properties Stacey Keating said.

The walk started early on Saturday with around 800 adults and 300 children participating.

Following the walk itself, Hamilton Place Mall offered different pink-related activities and vendors in support of breast cancer awareness.

“Even if you don’t have a family member that has been impacted by breast cancer, you likely know somebody that has. So it’s something that really touches everybody,” Keating said.

“It was especially personal for me this year because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. So she’s currently undergoing treatment. The energy and the support that you feel from the community here is just so powerful. There’s really nothing like it,” Keating said.

Over a thousand people attended the event to walk and raise support for breast cancer research.

Dancers with Infinite Elite Company came out to congratulate breast cancer survivors and those that are still fighting.

“The dances went to honor the people that are still fighting breast cancer and in memory of the people that lost,” dancer Ira Thompson said.

“Being a part of this and seeing how they went through it and us being here, being able to congratulate them and cheer them on… for going through something so difficult that we couldn’t even imagine,” dancer Olivia Camp added. 

Participants say there was an overwhelming feeling of support from the Chattanooga community.

“It’s so fun to see everyone’s faces when we’re cheering them on and it just brings them so much joy,” dancer Ava Carter said.

The event raised over $100,000 dollars in support of breast cancer research for Susan G. Komen.

“You feel it. And you can’t help but just get emotional because it’s so inspirational… and you feel grateful for our community in those moments,” Marketing Director at Hamilton Place Mall Jason Heymann said.

Mall organizers look forward to celebrating and raising awareness again next year.