Letting the 'Kat' out to raise money for breast cancer research

Peggy Barker wants to let the "Kat" out of the bag with a way she's found to raise money for breast cancer research.

Last May, she and friend, Jacki Byrtus, created PinkKat, which promotes breast cancer awareness. Ten to 20 percent of each sale by the business will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Tidewater Affiliate.

Breast cancer has touched both women's lives.

Byrtus' mother was a breast cancer survivor, and Barker had the disease. Her left breast was sore when she decided to have it checked. After diagnosis, she had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

"I'm a 10-year breast cancer survivor," Barker said, "so we were trying to think of something to do to raise some money."

The Virginia Beach women came up with a PinkKat logo that features a dark pink cat, with swishing tail, adorning the "A" in the company name. Their slogan is "Purrr for the Cure." The cat is a nod to Byrtus' mother who, as a child, would make a cat out of the Q in her name.

The hope, Barker said, is that the feline-friendly logo will get the attention of women of all ages.

"We want to get younger generations because, unfortunately, it's showing up in younger generations these days," Barker said. In October, the women donated PinkKat T-shirts to the Granby High School field hockey team, as well as a number of their magnets and pins, so the team could sell the merchandise to raise money for breast cancer research. The team went pink for the entire month to raise awareness, too.

Byrtus and Barker have also raised several hundred dollars by participating in Race for the Cure at the Beach and Strides for Life in Norfolk. "We're trying to raise the awareness so younger girls do their exams like they should," Byrtus said.

For further information, Barker and Byrtus can be e-mailed through their Web site, www.pinkkat.biz, or by calling 351-2892.