Senior, Lydia Mullenax, is growing Pink Pumpkins to help with Breast Cancer Research for TCHS teacher, Lisa Dyer. Early this spring, Lydia learned about the “Pink Pumpkin Project” from her FFA Advisor, Terry Hauser. Porcelain Doll Pumpkin Seeds were provided to interested FFA chapters by the Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation. The foundation was created in 2012 to aid in the fight against breast cancer. It is comprised of pumpkin growers across America committed to giving a percentage of proceeds from every pink pumpkin sold to the foundation, which in turn will award grants to breast cancer research organizations Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women: one in every eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life.
Mullenax said “this is a very personal cause for me because my teacher, Mrs. Lisa Dyer was diagnosed with breast cancer and has had a long hard struggle. My family has also been affected because my own grandmother also suffered from breast cancer and passed a year before I was born. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I am glad to help out in some small way”
FFA members started the seeds in the greenhouse at the high school. Mullenax took her plants home in late May and got them in the ground in early June. She was a little worried about the wet summer but they did great. Lydia said her family has been a great help. “Dad plowed and tilled my quarter acre patch and my brother and cousin helped me set the plants out” Mullenax said her small patch has yielded approximately 100 pink pumpkins and she plans to do the project again next year and double the size of her patch. She explained “the pink pumpkins are pie pumpkins and make great pies”. If you are interested in a pumpkin, just let her know or contact the FFA chapter at the high school. Mullenax is the daughter of Eric and Kim Mullenax of St. George.
