Fields of Hope event puts roots down in S.B.
Flower plantings to help raise money, breast cancer awareness
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Three township residents are hoping daffodils will bloom into breast cancer awareness through a fundraiser called Fields of Hope.

At the moment, Live for Pink, the local nonprofit running the effort, is looking for individuals who can donate bulbs, which will then be planted by volunteers in areas throughout the township and beyond. According to Orla Mejia, one of the founding members of the organization, the daffodil is an internationally recognized symbol for cancer awareness, because it is a sign of new life after a long winter, which was why the flower was chosen for this project.

The organization approached the Township Council during its June 26 meeting and council members supported the idea. The township is currently discussing where exactly the flowers can be planted. It is the intention of Live for Pink, which is run by three full-time mothers, that volunteers will plant bulbs in different areas of South Brunswick and some neighboring towns in order to create, every spring, massive, yellow daffodil fields.

"Every spring thereafter [we'll] have this vibrant sea of hope right in front of us, bringing happiness to everyone who comes by," Mejia said.

People, for a small fee, will be able to dedicate plantings to loved ones who survived or fell to cancer.

Mejia is from Ireland and had seen the idea executed there, but not for breast cancer awareness specifically, and decided to bring it to the U.S. The organization has received donations of 500 bulbs thus far, which should cover 85 square feet when planted, though sources for more are being sought for this project.

The Live for Pink organization, founded by Mejia, Darla Donnellan and Jackie Robichbau, was formed three years ago and began fundraising efforts in January. The trio had been involved in breast cancer fundraising for many years, participating in things such as Race for the Cure, and decided to extend their efforts through the formation of a nonprofit corporation. Having just received federal recognition in January, the group plans to play a support role for other organizations engaged in the fight against breast cancer, with the organization using strict eligibility criteria centered mostly on how much money is spent on overhead.

The three also participate in the 60-mile walk for breast cancer awareness in Philadelphia. In addition to the Fields of Hope Project, they also hope to raffle off a custom chopper that was donated to them sometime in the future.

"It's really a great cause ... and we'd like people to be aware of it," said Donnellan.