Hidden throughout the town of Roseboro, rocks painted with words of encouragement are waiting to be found.
The staff of Lane and Associates Family Dentistry are showing their support of breast cancer awareness through a project that led them to paint and hide rocks around the town.
According to Allie Strickland, a few times a year, the business promotes campaigns, highlighting a special cause. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the staff at Lane and Associates felt it only seemed natural to do something that promoted breast cancer awareness.
“We had all heard of hidden rocks adorned with encouraging words or images found all across the state,” Strickland said. “We thought, what better way to create awareness, right here in our little town of Roseboro.”
Along with Strickland, others involved in the project were Dawn Walters, Kaye Hollingsworth, Jaime Naylor, Chavon Rattley, Cristina Gagnon and Tiffany Lorenzo.
The “Throwing Rocks at Cancer” project includes 16 hand-painted rocks with different words of encouragement. Once the rocks are found, Strickland and the staff say they would like the person to post a picture of the rock to Facebook and then re-hide the rock for someone else to find and be encouraged by the words.
“This way the cycle continues and more awareness is spread,” Strickland noted.
One of the 16 rocks is in the process of making a special trip to the Bahamas. Walters and Naylor, who are headed on a vacation, carried the rock that boasts the slogan “Throw Rocks at Cancer!” with them and have plans to hide the rock there.
“We are sad they didn’t take us on their trip, but someone’s gotta stay home and hold down the fort,” Hollingsworth, joined by Strickland, said with a laugh. “But, really, we are excited for them to hide our rock in the Bahamas. Maybe someone will actually post about it when they find it.”
The ladies share that cancer is something that has affected each of them in some way, and for that reason, they really want to spread awareness through the rock campaign.
“We want the Roseboro community to be on the lookout for all 16 of our breast cancer awareness rocks hidden throughout the town,” Strickland explained. “If you’re lucky enough to find one, we kindly ask you like our Facebook page, Lane & Associates Family Denistry, Roseboro, post a picture of yourself with the rock and use #LAARoseboro, #Smileforthecure and #kayyowfund. All of our rocks have a little tag attached to them giving specific instructions on how to share and hide.”
Hollingsworth said she has always been a collector of rocks, collecting them from all across the world. Three years ago, cancer struck her family when she lost her father to the disease.
“Cancer also hits home for me because I lost my Daddy three years ago to cancer and this could not have been a better idea for our team to do, combining two things I am passionate about,” Hollingsworth noted.
While each of the ladies are excited about the project, Strickland said the idea of bringing the community together in a fun way, brings a great deal of excitement.
“I couldn’t be more excited to share this project with Roseboro,” Strickland said. “This community is close-nit, we support one another. I know this will prove to be true with our project. We thought this would be a really fun, interactive way to not only to bring awareness to breast cancer but to encourage others to do the same.”
