Richland Pink Party online auction opens June 10

The Richland Pink Party will be opening its online auction this Saturday. Greiner Real Estate & Auction will be hosting the auction on their website, www.greinerrealestate.com. Bidding will open Saturday, June 10 at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 19. Items must be paid in full when picking up at Greiner’s in Richland. Items in the auction include knickknacks, seed corn, candles, perfumes, metal art and yard signs, gift certificates, tickets to the Cardinals vs. Cubs baseball game, ½ hog with processing, and much more.

Richland Pink Party for a Cure began in October 2008 in Richland, Iowa. It was founded by Darcy Hackert, Kathy Coleman and Sandy Williams. Darcy came up with the idea to do a fundraiser after she was diagnosed in 2004 and then declared cancer free in 2005. In 2008, Darcy decided they should do something in the fall during October since it was breast cancer awareness month. The first two years, it was done through Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink for the Cure. All the proceeds at that time went back to Komen. Then the idea came to branch out independently so that the money could stay in the community. She wanted to do something to support the community that supported her while she fought and beat breast cancer. Beginning in 2010, it was changed to a nonprofit organization. In 2021, the dinner and live auction that was held every October became an annual online auction.

Throughout the year, Richland Pink Party for a Cure is in contact with area medical clinics to inform them about the organization and the funds that are available for their breast cancer patients who may be in need of financial assistance. In addition to the support they provide for breast cancer patients, they also offer three $1,500 scholarships that have been created to help those entering a medical field that have been affected by breast cancer in some manner.

Patients that are residents of Keokuk, Jefferson, Mahaska, Wapello, or Washington counties are encouraged to reach out to them directly for assistance. Due to HIPPA regulations they cannot reach out to patients, so if assistance with medical related expenses is needed, please contact them for more details on available assistance. Each of the county hospitals receive money directly to assist with individuals needing diagnostic testing also. To reach out, you may email them at richlandpinkparty@gmail.com or call 641-919-9083.