The fourth annual Puttin’ on the Pink Gala is set for early next month, and will feature a masked ball theme.

Puttin’ on the Pink board member James Turnage said the event was started four years ago as part of a Pearl River County Leadership project to help cancer patients receive the information they need to receive proper treatment.

From there the effort morphed into an effort to provide mammograms to women who could not afford them because they made too much money for government assistance, but too little to afford insurance, Turnage said.

Abbie Turnage, president of the foundation, said all proceeds raised in the ticket sales, silent auction and other fund raising activities are used to fund those mammograms. Last year the effort raised about $18,000.

Funds will be raised through a ball set for Oct. 4 at Southern Char, which will feature the Cowboy Blues Band, and the previously mentioned silent auction, a raffle for a 50 quart Yeti cooler, t-shirt sales and a bake sale, Abbie Turnage said. A lot of the funds also come from corporate sponsorships.

The mammogram vouchers can be used at any doctor or hospital, but if they are used at Highland Community Hospital the full cost of the procedure will be covered. Otherwise the voucher is good for up to $140 of the cost, Abbie Turnage said.

The gala will feature cancer survivor Sabrina Brown as the guest speaker, who sponsors a walk in Poplarville. This year’s walk is set for Oct. 11.

Dinner at the gala will be shrimp and ribeye steak.

Tickets for the gala are $50 a piece.

Specially themed gift baskets will also be available for bid at Highland Community Hospital, the proceeds of which will be added to the effort. 

The baskets will be on display beginning next Thursday in the private dining room.