Paint The Town Pink

Written By Breanna Bortner

One of the best ways to make lemonade out of the lemons that life hands you - is to be part of something greater than yourself. This year, I was given the incredible opportunity to be the 2025 Paint the Town Pink Ambassador. An honor, extended to one individual each year who has survived breast cancer, is a way to serve as the “why” behind the fundraising that takes place annually here in Austin, MN.

If you were to drive through my town today you would be greeted with pink flags, pink cancer ribbons hanging in business windows, vibrant pink lights illuminating buildings, and yes, even a massive pink bra! Our mighty little town with a population of 26k sure knows how to rally together to support advancements for a cause that has touched each and every one of us, cancer.

Just three short months after my double mastectomy surgery last year, I was contacted by the paint the town pink coordinator from the hormel institute.

She had seen my article in the Austin Daily Herald and wanted to know more about my story. We sat down for lunch and discussed the role of the ambassador. I immediately knew that this would be something positive I could do with my diagnosis. So, without hesitation, I said “I’m in!” I instantly knew that this would be a way to make a positive impact in not only my local community but in the greater cancer community as well.

Paint the Town Pink is a community-led campaign that takes place right here in the city of Austin, MN. This is their 15th year of raising funds for cancer research at The Hormel Institute, a world-renowned cancer research center we are so lucky to have here in town. Since its inception, the Paint the Town Pink events have raised over $3.1 million dollars towards cancer research at The Hormel Institute. Every one of those dollars goes directly to support scientists looking to make advancements in their studies and research.

There is truly is something for everyone with events ranging from a cornhole tournament, bowling tournament, fishing tournament, hockey game where they turn the ice pink, demo derby, and a long-time favorite - a polar plunge!

Tim and I have been attending Plunging for Pink since 2019 and made the 12-hour roundtrip drive to be part of the festivities with our friends before we even lived here. After I received the shocker of a breast cancer diagnosis in July of 2023, I realized that this event would now have a much deeper meaning. In January of 2024, I started my first official Brave Beautiful Boobies team that plunged into freezing cold waters on my behalf. You can read more about last year’s Plunging for Pink event in this blog post here.

This year, now that I was out of active treatment and in remission, I was super excited to continue that tradition and exceed our fundraising goal from the year prior! If you’re curious if I jumped in the freezing cold water this year, the answer is still no. I figured I had already done enough “plunging” between wearing my cold cap for 116 hours and doing cryotherapy to prevent hand and foot neuropathy. With that being said, I absolutely love cheering my team on (from the warmth of my jacket) on the sidelines!

Credit: The Hormel Institute

My role as ambassador was kept under wraps for months until it was finally time to share the news with the local community! I was officially announced as this year’s ambassador at the Business After Hours Event on January 14th. This event hosted at The Hormel Institute kicks off the entire Paint the Town Pink campaign for the year. Of course, I was nervous anticipating speaking to 200 attendees including scientists, community members, the Austin Bruins Hockey team, and The Hormel Institute Employees. But I remembered that there was once a version of me that was lying sick on the couch and hospitalized for days at a time, who would be so proud. So I did it for her.

→ Click here to watch my introductory speech

My role as the ambassador is to be present at events, speak with the media, and openly share my cancer story. Luckily, I have gotten pretty good at being open and transparent through creatively processing my cancer journey right here on this blog and also by creating content on TikTok.

After all that i endured, I now understand that openly sharing my experience isn’t the hard part, it was living through it.

As the ambassador, I have gotten to experience a few firsts such as being interviewed by news stations at Business After Hours and Plunging for Pink! I got to participate in a ceremonial puck drop at the Paint the Rink Pink hockey event hosted by the Austin Bruins. And most importantly, I got to attend new events and meet new people.

This year I promised the Brave Beautiful Boobies plunging team that all proceeds from merchandise sales (bravebeautifulboobies.com/shop) would go towards our fundraising. Well, you amazing people came through and with the 25 orders I received I was able to raise over $330 to go towards our efforts. It truly is a “pinch me” moment to see people all across the world and in my hometown repping Brave Beautiful Boobies merch. This isn’t something that is lost on me. I feel beyond lucky to have the most loyal supporters who want to wear clothes I make, and even more wildly, want to jump in freezing cold waters on my behalf.

I hope that this role as ambassador is only just the beginning. I would love to continue being involved in the cancer community, raising funds for research, and being a voice and mentor for the young adults who will get a shock cancer diagnosis of their own. My goal this year is to attend 7 events as a speaker, and hey - I’ve already got three of those under my belt! So, If you hear of any events or are looking for someone to present at your own event or conference, I would love to be considered. Please connect with me here to share more details.

A special thanks goes out to The Hormel Institute, for believing in me. The city of Austin, for rallying together each and every year to raise crucial funds for research. And to everyone else who has purchased merch, made donations to this great cause, and read this blog. You all continue to be a vital part of my survivor support system.


Featured Articles & Publications:

Videos, articles, and podcasts I was featured in as the 2025 Paint the Town Pink Ambassador!

Credit: The Hormel Institute

Here is to brighter (and warmer) days ahead!

Xo, Breanna

Breanna Bortner
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