“Each of those lights represents a life, a life of a loved one. It’s not just lights on a tree, but the life of a loved one, and they’re being honored and they’re being remembered by their family and friends,” Pink Lady Joyce Mitchell said during the group’s Love Light tree lighting ceremony at Blue Ridge Medical Center December 2.
The Love Light program has been a tradition since 1977, Mitchell said. It serves to commemorate loved ones while raising funds for the Pink Ladies’ scholarship, which is awarded to students pursing a career in the medical field.
“We’re very proud of that tradition,” Mitchell said. “It’s not one that we are going to easily give up because it has meant so much to the people around us.”
This year’s recipients are Aidan Patterson and Reagan York, totaling $1,500.
The ceremony included special singing and the lighting of the tree in front of the hospital.
David Haight, discipleship pastor at The Ridge Community Church, was the guest speaker and told of his daughter’s birth, making note of the difference the hospital workers made during that time.
“I just want to say that every single thing that you guys do is so important and makes such an impact on people’s lives,” he said.
Of the work of the Pink Ladies, which is part of the hospital’s auxiliary, Mitchell said, “We are rebuilding just like the hospital is rebuilding.”
“We’ve tried to keep this going through the generations,” she added, noting that her mother, Shirley Copeland’s and Becky Guthrie’s were all Pink Ladies.
Mitchell recognized fellow Pink Lady Wanda Patterson for volunteering 17,932 hours.
Mitchell also recognized Shirley Copeland, previous Pink Lady president.
Copeland has now stepped back from the organization but will continue making stuffed animals for children who come through the emergency room or for procedures.
“The thing I’m most proud of is the way the group has stuck together and put everything together to keep going,” Copeland said.