Greater Mower County Paint the Town Pink kicks off

Austin had one of its first Paint the Town Pink events Sunday. Paint the Town Pink is an annual fundraiser donating money to the Hormel Institute for breast cancer research.

Greater Mower County Paint the Town Pink and the Austin Eagles Club hosted the all-day event.

There was a silent auction, home-cooked breakfast, and Vikings Football watch party — all made possible with help from the community.

Debbie Retterath is a breast cancer survivor herself and now volunteers with Paint the Town Pink.

“I just get really excited about it. I see the good that can come from something so horrible like a cancer diagnosis. And I know what’s going on at the Institute, and I know someday we’re going to make a huge difference,” Retterath said.

Greater Mower County Paint the Town Pink thinks they will surpass their goal of $200,000 in donations this year, with millions of dollars in total going to the Hormel Institute.