Sep 12, 2014 3 min read

Breast cancer survivors will participate in the second annual Living Pink Pageant in Pennsylvania to raise money for the Cancer Caring Center.

The pageant will be held at Salvatore’s Events and Catering, 5001 Curry Road, in Baldwin. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Sept. 15, with the pageant beginning at 5 p.m.

The event is open to anyone who was or is diagnosed with breast cancer, and is definitely not a beauty pageant, said Scott Allison, co-owner of LeCher Productions, the company based in Denver that is presenting the pageant.

Everyone is a winner in the pageant with the purpose of raising money for the Cancer Caring Center, a non-profit organization in Pittsburgh that helps cancer survivors, their families and concerned friends to cope effectively with the emotional impact of cancer through support services.

Allison also coordinates a similar pageant in the state of Washington that last year raised $15,000.

“I’m very involved in the Living Pink Pageant and it’s pretty much a priority in my life,” Allison said during a recent telephone interview. The production company holds pageants for other charities, but the Living Pink Pageant is close to his heart. His step-grandfather died of breast cancer. Although a smaller percentage than women, men can and do develop breast cancer.

Last year, the Living Pink Pageant in Pennsylvania was held in Erie and has since moved to the Pittsburgh area.

“This year we decided to go small and to go big next year,” Allison said. By Sept. 5, three breast cancer survivors had signed up to participate. The winner will be determined by the amount of money each contestant raises up to and including the night of the pageant, Allison said.

There will be an evening gown segment, questions and answers and a makeover for the contestants, according to Rebecca Whitlinger, executive director of the Cancer Caring Center.

Survivors wishing to sign up to participate may do so at lecherproductions.com. Voting may also be completed online through donations, and tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Light refreshments will be available.

Adult tickets are $10 plus taxes and fees, and youth tickets for ages 13 to 18 are $5. Children are free.

Allison said LeCher Productions receives only 10 percent of the money raised with the rest going to the cancer center.

“We don’t really make any money from this,” Allison said.

His hope one day is to have a Living Pink Pageant in all 50 states.