Pink Arrow’s Teresa Beachum Ready to Pass the Baton

There are many people involved in making Pink Arrow games possible each year. However, no one may be more closely identified with the annual event than Teresa Beachum.

From rounding up t-shirt sponsors to organizing game day events, the Lowell resident has poured her heart and soul into raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local cancer support and scholarship programs. Now, she is hoping someone who feels just as passionately about the cause as her will be willing to step up and fill the fundraising and organizing role.

“After 13 years of organizing Pink Arrow, I would like to pass the baton,” she says.

Beachum plans to continue her role managing family support payments throughout the year, but she is stepping down from the marketing and fundraising side of the event. While some are concerned that Beachum’s departure will mean the end of Pink Arrow, she is hopeful another person will be found to pick up these duties.

2020 Pink Arrow Distributes $112,500

The 2020 Pink Arrow game was unlike any other. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers weren’t even sure there would be a football game this year. Then, it ended up that the game would go on, but fans could not be in the stands.

Beachum credits local businessman Marty Chambers with having the idea of projecting the game on a screen at Recreation Park and Dave VanKeulen for making it happen with technology and equipment from Impact Church. Approximately 100 vehicles attended the drive-in event and many more supported the 2020 Pink Arrow event by purchasing t-shirts or making donations.

Despite the obstacles, the event was a success with $112,500 raised. While not a record, it is more than has been raised in other years. That money was divvied up as follows:

  • $66,000 to Gilda’s Club to support the Lowell Clubhouse that provides emotional support to families affected by a cancer diagnosis as well as those who are grieving the loss of a loved one for any reason.
  • $40,000 to Lowell Community Wellness to provide direct support to families impacted by cancer.
  • $6,500 for the Dr. Donald Gerard Memorial Scholarship and the Kathy Talus Scholarship which are awarded to Lowell Area Schools students.

Looking for Someone Inspired to Continue the Cause

To continue Pink Arrow’s success, a new person will be needed to step into the role of marketer and fundraiser. “We absolutely need someone who has a heart for connecting with businesses and foundations,” Beachum says.

Her work usually begins in the early spring as she finds businesses to serve as t-shirt sponsors. Then, she works into the summer to plan t-shirt sales, community events and other activities leading up to game day. Pink Arrow is entirely volunteer-run, and there are no paid positions within the organization. However, Beachum says there are benefits beyond money that come with the position.

“It’s guaranteed you’ll be rewarded in more ways than you can know,” she says. “I have met wonderful people that I am inspired by.”

To learn more about this volunteer opportunity, call Beachum at 581-6199. She hopes someone else who shares her passion for helping others will step up to continue the Pink Arrow game which has become such a much-loved annual event.

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