A Leechburg resident is using music to bring folks together and help raise funds for breast cancer research.
Sherry Price, a breast cancer survivor and organizer of Pink Day, one of the largest festivals in Western Pennsylvania dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, is organizing Notes for Hope Music and Food Festival, a pre-Pink Day fundraiser, on Saturday, July 15.
The festival will take place outside, rain or shine, at the Hyde Park Heritage Pavilion along the Kiski River.
“I’m excited to see what the 2023 fundraising season brings,” said Price, who first created Notes for Hope in 2021.
All proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To date, Price has raised more than $217,000 for breast cancer research.
Last year, Price raised more than $41,000, including about $5,000 raised at Notes for Hope.
“It’s all new bands this year,” she said. “It should be a great party.”
The winter musical festival held at the Marconi Club in Leechburg earlier this year raised more than $4,000.
“It was a wonderful kickoff to the year,” Price said.
For Price, it’s a family- and-friends, “all-hands-on-deck” effort to put together all of the fundraising events that lead up to the biggest fundraiser of the year — Pink Day.
This year, Pink Day is Sept. 16.
Pink Day, founded by Price in 2011, is a daylong festival that draws thousands to downtown Leechburg.
She went public with her own breast cancer journey in 2021 and hopes her story will help other women.
Price currently is cancer-free and started Notes for Hope in an effort to boost donations before Pink Day.
She said it’s shaping up to be the biggest Pink Day ever, with new attractions and vendors.
“I’m so excited and kind of shocked Pink Day was voted Best Local Event in Allegheny East area of Pittsburgh in 2022,” Price said. “But this has been a factor in attracting new people who are eager to be involved.”
Clyde Callicott of Aspinwall, vocalist and guitarist with Right TurnClyde, said he contacted Price and wanted to participate because he personally has been affected by breast cancer.
“It means a lot. My soon-to-be sister-in-law went through the whole journey and came out on the other side as a breast cancer survivor. This cause is close to me,” Callicott said.
“In this world of what we call a hero, it’s super easy not to recognize a true hero — someone that takes this on and goes through it.”
Right TurnClyde performs a high-energy mix of modern and classic rock.
Other scheduled bands for Notes for Hope include Curtis and the Shakerz, Dimwit, Half Wheel, Magic and The Hot Metal Brass and Murphy’s 56 East Band.
Participating food trucks include DelVecchio’s Sausage & Fries, Anything Rolls Egg Rolls, Little C’s Concessions, Rittner’s Farmhouse Bakery and QT’s Butt Hutt.
Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs. No outside food, coolers or alcohol are permitted.
Adult beverages will be sold by the Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Company, the festival’s host.
“I’m hoping for good weather and a great turnout,” Price said.
