VERSAILLES, Ky. — It's a tribute to those who have and continue to battle breast cancer.
Peyton Whitaker with Pink Sisters and said, "Three years ago, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and throughout her fight and journey, she had such a strong support system behind her. We knew from that we wanted to be a support system for others. That's what really started Pink Sisters. The banners was just our first step in doing that."
Banners that 15-year-old Whitaker hoped would bring awareness to those traveling through downtown Versailles in Woodford County.
"For me the first time I saw all the banners, really, it was just a surreal feeling because it had always been this idea and it always been like something that I wanted to do. To finally see it in the physical form was just amazing." Whitaker said.
Even more amazing, because Peyton’s mother is also a breast cancer survivor and her image is one of the many displayed here on Main Street.
The banner proved to be special for cancer survivor Catherine Anderson who said, "It's something to celebrate, but it was emotional seeing it up there, because you know, when you can say you're a survivor, it's powerful. I'm here for everybody else."
Anderson is the founder of “Pink Sister’s,” an organization formed to unite breast cancer survivors. She hopes that these banners will be the first step toward bringing those battling breast cancer together.
Anderson said, "Pink Sisters is a nonprofit that I've recently started to raise breast cancer awareness in the community and also be a means of support for those that are affected by breast cancer."
Support that breast cancer survivors like Marni Gibson appreciate more than they can say.
Survivor Marni Gibson was surprised when she saw her banner. Gibson said, "When I first saw my banner, my initial reaction was honestly overwhelming. And then secondly, it was very empowering. I'm a newer breast cancer survivor. I finished treatment about five months ago. To see it for the first time was truly the first time that I saw the word survivor and my name."
Each of these banners symbolizes respect for the fight taken on by each person following their breast cancer diagnosis. Something that touched Amy Iwahara as she was tasked to create the them.
Iwahara told Spectrum News 1, "To see it downtown is amazing. Working on each individual banner, I felt a personal connection as I looked at the photos of the survivors and those who have lost their battle. It was very overwhelming and to see these warriors and their names and their faces being brought in our community, it's very empowering and it's inspiring hope in others who are maybe just diagnosed or going through their battle together that they know they're not alone."
45-banners that these women hope will bring the community together for a single cause, all thanks to the efforts of one 15-year-old and the “Pink Sister’s.”
Whitaker added, " It just really is a great feeling to know that our whole community is behind such a great cause."