BY JORDAN TROUTMAN cassvilledemocrat@outlook.com

Power of Pink celebrated its 15th year of service to women diagnosed with breast cancer by raising $49,577.88 to help support the four nominated ladies of 2025.

Janice McCracken, Power of Pink founder and organizer, said with the addition of the four ladies from this year, the organization has helped 58 women in total, and raised $464,843.40.

“Wow,” she said. “Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the vision for this, and the ability to make it happen. Here we are, completing 15 years and being able to help that many women. I’m thankful.”

McCracken is also thankful to every person who has supported this foundation over the years.

“I don’t do it – the community does it,” she said. “We put it out there, and the people have made it what it is today.”

People can support Power of Pink by donating, as well as by registering and attending the annual dinner, auction and walk, which are always held the weekend of Mother’s Day.

McCracken said she has learned a lot over the years through the women and families Power of Pink has helped.

“Never lose faith in God; he can do more than we can even think of,” she said. “Never take your loved ones for granted. They can be here one day and gone the next.

“Life is precious, and our loved ones are precious.”

McCracken said she is happy to offer an avenue that allows people to help others.

“Things can happen in a small community,” she said. “All you have to do is reach out. A lot of people want to help, and they need an avenue to do that – Power of Pink is that avenue.”

Going back to year one, 2010, there were two women who got $1,000 each.

“Now, I am writing $10,000 checks almost every year, raising almost $50,000 each year,” McCracken said. “These women are in a fight for their lives, and we can help them this way.

“They can use this money for whatever they want, to help with bills or medical expenses, or to take a vacation.”

McCracken said she and her daughter had a conversation about raising money this year and realizing the economy is tough on everyone right now.

“My daughter said things are hard right now, so don’t get upset if we can’t raise a lot this year,” she said. “But, if we step out in our faith, God will bless it – and he did.”

McCracken said almost every table at the dinner and auction was full.

“That is the most packed we have seen it,” she said. “It was amazing. We are getting more people to come from different areas. We help women from the four-state area, so we want that.

“I want to continue to grow, and grow, and grow so people all over the four-state area have heard about Power of Pink.”

McCracken said it takes everyone sharing the stories and the events, and the more people share it, the more it will grow.

“Every dollar counts,” she said. “This year, we decided to start the process of buying tables instead of renting them every year, that way every dollar possible goes to these women.”

For those interested in sponsoring a table, the cost is $300 per table, and that comes with the name of the sponsor on the table for two years, as well as two tickets to the dinner for three years.

“If I can find tables cheaper than $300, then the money left over will roll into the next table so we can purchase as many as possible,” McCracken said. “We rented 30 tables this year, so our goal is 35 tables, to make room for growth.”

As of now, Power of Pink has already received nominations for four new Pink Ladies for the 2026 year.

“I am ready to take donations, raffle items and baskets,” she said. “We have one of our former Pink Ladies who has donated caps and visors for us to sell with the Power of Pink logo. So, that is money being raised for the new ladies by the past ladies.”

McCracken said she appreciates the full circle moment in that.

“We help women who turn around and help women every year,” she said. “That means a lot to me. We have been blessed with some amazing women.”

McCracken said people don’t have to donate, but can still come to support these women in other ways.

“Sadly, we lost an amazing lady this year,” McCracken said. “She was a fighter, and she got her victory, it’s just on the other side of heaven.”

Apart from helping women, breast cancer education and awareness is equally important.

“I want to encourage people to get those mammograms, no matter what age,” McCracken said. “We have ladies that are younger and younger every year.

“Men need to be encouraged too. This isn’t just a woman thing.”

Finally, McCracken asks that people continue to pray for the Pink Ladies.

To register for the walk, people may can go online at https://powerofpinkmo. com.

The 2025 Pink Ladies stories will be printed each week in the month of October in the Cassville Democrat, and 10% of all advertising in the month of October will be donated to the Power of Pink.