The Colton Area Pink Ladies are a group of ladies from Colton, Trent, Madison and Crooks who play in the Pink Ladies Dart League together out of TJz Bar & Restaurant while helping raise funds to help families battling cancer. (Photo/Submitted)

Sara Stadem | Editor

When one thinks about dart leagues, there are many elements that might run through someone’s mind such as competitiveness, fun atmosphere, great time with friends. Something else that gets associated to dart leagues are the Pink Ladies (PL) but the Pink Ladies are more than a dart team. They are a team who helps families battling cancer and the Colton Area Pink Ladies are at it this holiday season.
The Colton Area PL will be hosting their first “Purses for a Cause” sale on Friday, December 10, from 5-9 pm at TJz Bar and Restaurant in Colton in hopes to help raise money for local families affected by cancer.
According to Kathy Lamer, TJz owner and member of the PL, the Colton Area PL started in 2018 and gained their 501c3 status in 2019.
Lamer explained the Colton Area PL “are a fun-loving, big-hearted” group of women who play in the PL Dart Leagues out of TJz Bar & Restaurant. They also play in other towns and bars in an effort to support all the PL Chapters in the area. “The goal of all the PL Chapters is to play darts and raise funds to help families battling cancer,” Lamer said.
The Colton Area PL currently have members from Colton, Trent, Madison and Crooks, explained Lamer. A PL can also belong to more than one chapter if they so choose. Lamer said, “To join a chapter, you only need to join a league hosted by that chapter, go to the meetings, roll up your sleeves and get to work helping people in that area.”
When it comes to helping others with their fight against cancer, the PL are always looking for fun new ideas to raise money that people would want to participate in, Lamer said, which is how the “Purse for a Cause” came to be. “And who doesn’t love purses!” she continued.
The purses that can purchased at the fundraiser have come from all over. “It’s been a blast shopping with the ladies looking for good deals and purses that other women would want to purchase,” Lamer said. The PL have shopped on line and in stores and have purchased purses such as like new Coach and other brand name bags from local women who became aware of the fundraiser.
Lamer further explained the PL have even received a few brand name purses as donations and although most purses are brand new with tags on them, there will be a table of like new brand name purses that will provide ladies the chance to own a “dream bag” for a lower price.
The open house event is free for those that want to stop in to check out the inventory or just to visit. “We like to keep things simple. This is simply a come and go shopping experience where guest are welcome to hang around and visit with others and maybe have a glass of wine,” said Lamer. “It can be fast and furious or laid back and relaxing, we are leaving it up to the shopper.”
According to Lamer, funds raised at the open house event will go to purchase items that may help families in need such as paying a utility bill, purchasing groceries, cash gift and more. Lamer said, “We have many items on hand for our “Cancer Care Bags” that we deliver to cancer warriors in our area. Our chapter likes to fit the gift to the needs of the family.”
Lamer further explained when someone in the community needs support with a larger amount of money to cover expenses, the PL will host a benefit, inviting family and friends while planning something to raise money such as an auction, karaoke, food buffet or anything else they think people might enjoy. “However, we don’t always do it that way. We like to respect the privacy of some of the families and you won’t see their name on our page,” Lamer said. “So, when it comes down to it, this fundraiser is going to give us more funds to give more gifts to as many families as we can! We are always trying to come up with ideas to help!”
For more information or to get a teaser peek of the purses prior to the event, check out their Facebook page, Colton Area Pink Ladies or TJz website which is tjzcoltonbar.com.
The PL express that if you know someone that is a cancer warrior and may need some help in the Colton area, please reach out by filling out their online form on their Facebook Page.