Beth Mercure of Ball Ground is organizing a Pink Glove Dance to generate awareness of breast cancer.
The dance will be coordinated by members of Mrs. Mercure's water aerobics class at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA in Canton. The dance at the indoor pool is free for the public to attend.
Mrs. Mercure said she got the idea from a video made by Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Ore. of staff dancing with pink gloves to bring attention to the disease. The video has been a hit on YouTube, and Mrs. Mercure plans to tape the dance on Friday to post on the website.
"It's just bringing awareness to breast cancer," she said of the dance's purpose, adding no funds will be raised.
The dancers participating, she said, are a good mix of people, including breast cancer survivors.
One of them is her mother, Dianne Trammell of Macedonia.
Mrs. Trammell was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 1999. She learned of the diagnosis after undergoing a mammogram screening at a mobile station set up at Cobb EMC, which was where she worked at the time.
It wasn't time for Mrs. Trammell's mammogram, but she had accompanied a friend who was afraid to get the screening herself.
Mrs. Trammell said the health care workers found something "suspicious" and told her to see her doctor as soon as possible.
Her doctor confirmed it was cancer in the left breast and also found pre-cancerous cells in her right breast. Her doctor said the cancer was estrogen-fed. She had been on hormone replacement therapy after having a complete hysterectomy in her 30s.
Mrs. Trammell said she felt "devastated and scared" after the diagnosis.
"I had no family history, so I was completely shocked," she said.
Mrs. Trammell, who was 56 at the time of her diagnosis, made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy.
"I would rather have piece of mind than two breasts," she said with a laugh.
Mrs. Trammell said her faith and her family kept her going through the battle.
Mrs. Mercure said it was difficult to see her mother suffering.
"It was a hard thing to go through," she said. "Watching her go through the surgery was brutal."
Mrs. Trammell, now 67, said she understands the impact of learning a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. Both of her parents passed away from cancer-related deaths.
Mrs. Mercure said she hopes people will come out to the event to celebrate "the lives that have been saved" through breast cancer treatments and awareness.
And for those fighting those battles, Mrs. Trammell has a message.
"Do all you can to get through it," she said.
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