Maine Cancer Foundation Event

Pink Tulip Tea Celebrates Blooming of 30,000 Pink Tulips in Maine Communities

Maine Cancer Foundation’s Pink Tulip Project is a symbol of hope and renewal for breast cancer patients and their families.
Throughout Maine 30,000 pink tulips are in bloom at 48 public garden sites from York to Houlton and from Greenville to Belfast. The tulips were planted for the Maine Cancer Foundation’s Pink Tulip Project. (A complete list of garden locations is attached.)

At a Pink Tulip Tea held yesterday at Bates College, local community members whose lives have been touched by breast cancer, those bravely fighting the disease and those who are working for a cure celebrated the blooming of the pink tulips. Program presenters included Lewiston Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr.; Kerry Irish, Program Director for The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center; Marsha O’Rourke, MD, of the Breast Health Program at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center; Breast Cancer Survivor Diane Marquis Monaghan; Pink Tulip Project Founder Robin Whitten; Maine Cancer Foundation’s Community Relations Manager Joanne Jordan; and Bates College Chaplain Bill Blaine-Wallace who blessed the blooms.

“The springtime blooming of the Pink Tulips creates a sense of hope and renewal for cancer patients and their families,” states Joanne Jordan of the Maine Cancer Foundation.  “Just as tulips herald the first hopes of spring, The Pink Tulip Project is a sign of hope that much needed research will bring a future free of cancer.”

Breast cancer survivor, Robin Whitten, of Portland, Maine, founded the idea for the Pink Tulip Project in November 2004 after planting her bulb garden and learning of her breast-cancer diagnosis.  That winter, throughout her chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Whitten visualized her garden of tulips blooming, knowing that when they did, her treatments would be completed.  Her vision of tulips and hope was the inspiration for the Pink Tulip Project. 

According to Jordan, the goal of the Pink Tulip Project is to raise $50,000.00 statewide for the Women’s Cancer Fund at the Maine Cancer Foundation. “This project allows people to get involved in every corner of the state.  We want to cure breast cancer one pink tulip at a time,” notes Jordan.

Last fall, volunteers planted pink tulip gardens for the Maine Cancer Foundation’s Pink Tulip Project. Gardeners solicited donations in honor of someone touched by breast cancer or in support of the project’s goals of awareness and funding of research for women’s cancer in Maine.  The project commemorates the challenge of women’s cancer and the celebration of hope that research and education provide.  Signs are posted at each Pink Tulip Project site.

In celebration of this spring bloom, gardens continue to solicit donations.  People interested in supporting this year’s effort are encouraged to contact www.pinktulip project.org and support a local garden or make a general donation to the Pink Tulip Project.  Contributions in support of the project can also be mailed to Pink Tulips, Maine Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 553,  Portland, ME 04112.

The Pink Tulip Project is gearing up for participants who would like to plan a garden in their community or at their business to plant this fall. You can find more information about registering your 2008 garden, as well as fundraising and planting instructions, at www.pinktulipproject.org.  Questions can be answered by Maine Cancer Foundation at (207) 773-2533.

All proceeds from the Pink Tulip Project benefit the Maine Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to funding research and finding hope for the people of Maine. Since 1976, the Foundation has supported cancer research, education and patient support programs throughout the state. Dedicated to advancing the path to a cancer free future, all funds raised remain in Maine. For more information, visit www.mainecancer.org or call 773-2533, or toll free in Maine 1-866-627-2411.

Pink Tulip Garden Locations

Eastern / Northern Maine
80 Exchange Street Garden, Bangor    80 Exchange St.    Bangor
Bangor - Broadway Ave./Center St..: Little City Garden    3 Poplar St.    Bangor
Downtown Bangor Gardens    1681 Essex St.    Bangor
Margaret Chase Smith Courthouse    22 Harlow St.    Bangor
St. Joseph's Healthcare Memorial Park    900 Broadway, Bldg 2    Bangor
Eastern Maine Community College    354 Hogan Road    Bangor
Martin's Point - Evergreen Woods Health Care    650 Evergreen Woods    Bangor
Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital    364 Pritham Ave    Greenville
Bridge to Hope    300 Foxcroft Rd.    Houlton
Jeannie's Dream Garden, Hulls Cove        Hulls Cove
MA Lynx/ Mattanawcook Academy/ Lincoln    33 Reed Dr.    Lincoln
Annie Santerre Memorial Garden, Milbridge    24 School Street, Me .    Milbridge
University of Maine Orono    University of Maine/ Schoodic Rd.    Orono


Southern Maine
Southern Maine Medical Center/     1 Medical Center Dr.    Biddeford
Cumberland Center Garden    285 Main Street    Cumberland Center
West Street Park/ Freeport Community Gardens    West Street Park    Freeport
University of Southern Maine Gorham    College Avenue    Gorham
Middle School of the Kennebunks    60 Thompson Road    Kennebunk
Long Island Community Garden    63 Cushing St.    Long Island
Breakwater School    Forest Ave.    Portland
Catherine  McAuley High School     631 Stevens Ave    Portland
Cumberland County Civic Center    One Civic Center Sq.    Portland
Deering Oaks    State Street    Portland
Eastern Prom/ Munjoy Hill    Eastern Promenade    Portland
Federal Courthouse Garden, Portland    156 Federal St.    Portland
Lincoln Park/ Ladies in the Law Portland    Pearl Street    Portland
Longfellow Square    Congress & State Streets    Portland
Maine Medical Center    22 Bramhall St    Portland
Mercy Hospital    State Street    Portland
Micucci's India Street/ Portland    45 India St.    Portland
Trinity Park    Forest Ave.    Portland
Western Prom Gardens    Western Promenade    Portland
Peaks Island        Portland
University of Southern Maine Portland    Bedford Street    Portland
Martin's Point    331 Veranda Street    Portland
Maine Medical Center for Cancer Care    100 Campus Drive    Scarborough
Hospice of Southern Maine    180 US Route One, #1    Scarborough
Deanie Stetson Memorial Garden, South Portland    Broadway     South Portland
Lindquist Funeral Home    1 Mayberry Lane    Yarmouth
York Community Garden    45 Boban St.    York

Central / Midcoast Gardens
Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care    361 Old Belgrade Rd.    Augusta
MMC Coastal Cancer Center    175 Congress Avenue    Bath
Belfast Garden Club    50 Salmond Street, , ME    Belfast
Brunswick/Topsham Swinging Bridge    30 Chamberlain Ave    Brunswick
Martin's Point Brunswick Health Care Center    6 Farley Rd    Brunswick
Bridge Farm    593 Gardiner Rd.    Dresden
Bates College    147 Russell St.    Lewiston
Central Maine Medical Center    300 Main Street    Lewiston
St Mary's Medical Center/ Lewiston    315 Sabattus Street    Lewiston
Lewiston City Garden    Lincoln and Main Street    Lewiston
Veterans Park    Main St. and Lincoln    Lewiston
Lincoln Circle Planter    Main St. and Lincoln    Lewiston
Mayher Park    Montello St and College Street    Lewiston
Lewiston City Garden    Farwell Street    Lewiston
Topsham Community Garden    22 Elm St.    Topsham
Waldoboro Garden Club    1348 Wagoner Bridge Rd.    Waldoboro

Contact: Joanne Jordan, 207.773.2533, joanne@mainecancer.org
Amy Latham, 207.755.9470

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