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Breast Friends for Life, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center and H.O.P.E for a Day would typically be gearing up this time of year for their annual breast cancer awareness events.

Now, in the midst of COVID-19, the organizations have had to find alternative and virtual routes to raise money for their cause.

The Breast Friends for Life Board is hosting a virtual Paint the Town Pink.

“We will still be decorating the downtown square like we have always done from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8,” said BFFL board member Rhonda Rogers.

“We plan to go around town to local businesses and give them flyers for the event to hang in their windows. We just want people to know we aren’t having that physical event we always have the last weekend in September, but we will be doing something virtually.”

The three organizations have teamed up with LGTV to host daily video segments which will highlight local people talking about breast cancer awareness, community resources available to cancer patients and other news regarding the organizations.

“We are going to have eight segments, and they will be on the Facebook page of all of our organizations,” Rogers said. “We don’t know if it’ll be once a week or everyday, but it will be on there.”

The HOPE committee decided this year that the walk will no longer happen going forward.

“We got to talking about the walk and just decided it was time to move on and have a new, different fundraiser,” said HOPE Committee Board Member Sherry Callaway.

“It is a big fundraiser for BFFL, but it has run its course.”

This year would have been the 11th year the walk had been going on in LaGrange. The annual 10-mile walk through LaGrange celebrates the men and women who have overcome breast cancer, or who are currently battling the disease.

“Between BFFL and the HOPE walk, we have raised approximately $940,000,” Callaway said.

“We want enough donations this year to finally reach $1 million. We still plan to donate our annual grants to the survivors.”

To donate, visit the Facebook pages or send a check or cash to HOPE for a Day, P.O. Box 145 LaGrange, Georgia 30241 or to Breast Friends for Life, P.O. Box 385, LaGrange, Georgia 30241.

“We really want younger crowds to join the board going forward and bring new ideas to the table,” Callaway said. “We really appreciate all the support the community has given us this year.”