Bulbs now available for Maine Cancer Foundation’s 6th annual Pink Tulip Project

    Falmouth, Maine — Maine Cancer Foundation announces the kick off of its sixth annual Pink Tulip Project fundraiser. Fall is bulb planting season and 30,000 pink tulip bulbs have been reserved. Deer resistant pink daffodil bulbs are also available. Bulbs planted in October will bloom next May. Bulbs may be ordered at http://www.pinktulipproject.org/ or by calling Maine Cancer Foundation at 207-773-2533.    Founded in 2006, by breast cancer survivor Robin Whitten, The Pink Tulip Project raises money and awareness by planting gardens of pale pink tulips across the state of Maine. The project has raised over $210,000 since its inception, 100 percent of which has been donated to the Women’s Cancer Fund at Maine Cancer Foundation. Gardens are established to raise funds, create awareness and support for those who have been affected by cancer. Communities enjoy the benefit of these pink gardens for several weeks each spring. What began as one Portland garden has increased to almost 100 gardens and tens of thousands of pink tulips sprouting up and down the shores of Maine, New York, Minnesota and several other states.    Houlton, Maine, working to cure cancer, one pink tulip at a time.
One community reaping the benefits of planting these gardens is Houlton, Maine. It all began when local resident Kim Folsom, a breast cancer survivor, joined the Bridge to Hope walk to benefit cancer research. The following year she teamed up with walk founder Cathy Kennedy and the two decided that they would not only organize a walk, but also plant pink tulip gardens to raise cancer awareness. The first year they used some of the money raised by the walk to purchase 500 bulbs to plant a ribbon-shaped garden at the Houlton downtown pedestrian footbridge. Each year since then they have continued to purchase more bulbs to plant other community gardens at the library, the post office and some of the Aroostook County schools. The rest of the money they raise from the walk supports other community cancer-related projects.
“We are proud of the work we have done planting these gardens to build cancer awareness in our community,” said Folsom. “At the same time it feels good that we are also supporting cancer research by raising money for Maine Cancer Foundation.”