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Painting St. Landry Parish PINK: Join the crusade for breast cancer awareness and early detection!

Each October, as the Louisiana humidity gives way to the first hints of autumn, a vibrant transformation sweeps across Opelousas, Louisiana. Storefronts, schools, hospital corridors and local landmarks are blanketed in many shades of pink. But beneath the festive decorations and sea of pink t-shirts lies a deeply purposeful event: Paint the Town Pink, a fundraiser to raise awareness about breast cancerTeam with Paint the Town Pink

Spearheaded by Opelousas General Health System (OGHS), this community-driven initiative has spent nearly two decades turning grassroots efforts into a powerful engine for local healthcare. What started as a local call to action has grown into a cornerstone of health advocacy, fundamentally changing the appreciation of breast cancer screenings. Since 2023, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) has proudly joined forces with OGHS to support this event across St. Landry Parish.

“I have been honored to serve as a committee member of the Paint the Town Pink initiative since its inception, and each year I am inspired by the incredible passion and dedication that surrounds this campaign,” said Renee Fontenot, cancer program director at Opelousas General. “The energy that radiates throughout St. Landry Parish during this time is truly infectious.”

Mary Bird Perkins’ vital partnership

Mary Bird Perkins’ (MBP’s) collaboration with OGHS is a cornerstone of the Paint the Town Pink initiative. As a trusted regional leader in cancer care and prevention, MBP plays an active, hands-on role in the campaign’s success by not only being a title sponsor of this much needed effort but also bringing its mobile resources directly to the community. During the campaign’s annual kickoff event, the Prevention on the Go (POGO) mobile unit is deployed to the OGHS Main Campus. This specialized unit provides breast cancer education and resources.

The partnership between OGHS and Mary Bird Perkins ensures that medical expertise meets community needs. Together, we are bridging the gap for individuals who might otherwise be unaware of when and how women should be screened based their risk factors.

Bridging the healthcare gap

Louisiana has long faced sobering statistics regarding women’s health. With roughly one in eight women projected to face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime,1 and the state historically ranking high in late-stage diagnoses, breast cancer education and screenings are important, and potentially lifesaving.2

Recognizing that financial constraints and a lack of insurance often prevent individuals from prioritizing preventive care, OGHS built Paint the Town Pink around a vital promise: removing cost as a barrier.

Funds raised through sponsorships, community events and the sale of the campaign’s iconic annual t-shirts go directly toward providing free, year-round mammograms and breast screenings for underinsured and uninsured residents. Because of these targeted efforts, St. Landry Parish has proudly risen above the national average for access to mammograms—a monumental achievement for a rural Louisiana community.

Per Fontenot, communities come together with a shared purpose, and conversations about breast cancer prevention, early detection, and hope take center stage. What makes this initiative especially meaningful is knowing that every dollar raised helps provide screening and diagnostic mammograms for uninsured and underinsured individuals in our community, ensuring that more women have access to lifesaving care.

“It is a privilege to be part of an effort that continues to make such a profound impact year after year,” said Fontenot.

To learn more about screening eligibility, visit opelousasgeneral.com/pink.

Get your Paint the Town Pink t-shirt!

2026 Paint the Town Pink t-shirts will be available for purchase as follows:

  • T-shirts can be preordered online through September 11.
  • T-shirts can be purchased in the lobby of the Opelousas General Main Campus (main entrance) on September 25 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.), September 28 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and September 29 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Cost is $9 (S-XL) and $10 (2XL-5XL), cash or credit card only. T-shirts from the prior year will also be available for purchase for $5 while supplies last! On and after September 30, all remaining shirts will be sold for $10 each in the hospital gift shop (cash only). Get yours before they are gone.Paint the Town Pink Event Photo

A community united in hope

Throughout October, the Opelousas community can stay deeply engaged through a variety of Paint the Town Pink creative events:

  • September 25 –Kickoff Party and T-shirt Sale – This lively public event takes place at Opelousas General Main Campus, featuring Mary Bird Perkins’ POGO bus, refreshments and community volunteers.
  • Every Friday – Pink Fridays – Community members are encouraged to wear their official Paint the Town Pink shirts or splash out in pink every single Friday during the month of October.
  • October 1-14 – “Be My Support” Bra Decorating Contest – Decorate a bra then drop it off at the Opelousas General Main Campus gift shop or OGH Imaging. Prizes will be awarded by judges’ vote, as well as people’s choice. Preregistration is required online at www.opelousasgeneral.com/pink.
  • October 16 – “Pinkest” Contest for Local Schools – Local schools go head-to-head in friendly competition, decorating their classrooms and spaces in brilliant pink to spark daily conversations about early detection. Registration is required.
  • October 23 – “Pinkest” Contest for Businesses – Local businesses go head-to-head in friendly competition, decorating their spaces in brilliant pink to spark daily conversations about early detection. Registration is required.
  • October 30 –Annual Pink Luncheon & Style Show – Hosted at Evangeline Downs Event Center, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (doors open at 11 a.m.). This signature gathering features an inspiring keynote speaker sharing powerful stories of resilience and hope, followed by a fashion show. Tickets are $25 per person or $180 for a table of eight; purchase tickets online at www.opelousasgeneral.com/pink by October 10.
  • October 30 – VIP After Party – This event follows the Pink Luncheon/Style Show, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. VIP tickets are an additional $25 and include complimentary beer, wine and an event-exclusive cocktail. Guests will receive a limited-edition souvenir glass.

More than a color

The enduring success of Paint the Town Pink is a testament to the generosity of local sponsors, hospital staff, volunteers and patients alike. By removing financial barriers and replacing fear with education, Opelousas has created a blueprint for how a tight-knit community can rally around its most vulnerable members. When you see the town awash in pink each fall, it is a reminder of those currently fighting, a tribute to those who are no longer with us and a beacon of hope proving that in Opelousas, no one faces the journey alone.

For more information…

1 National Cancer Institute. (2020). Breast cancer risk in American women. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/risk-fact-sheet

2 Louisiana Cancer Prevention and Control Programs. (n.d.). Breast cancer. Retrieved September 1, 2026, from https://louisianacancer.org/cancers/breast-cancer/

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