From grief, a party in pink is born (PHOTOS)

Heidi LoCicero, co-owner of Frill Seekers Gifts in the Village of Baytowne Wharf, is channeling grief into productivity by throwing a Tinkled Pink Party at Graffiti’s in Sandestin on Thursday.

LoCicero lost her mother-in-law to breast cancer about five months ago. Her daughter Peyton, 16, who is a member of the Fort Walton Beach High School Stars dance team, also recently lost her coach, Charlotte Dry, to the disease.

“In the process of grieving and trying to figure out why bad things happen, we realized that we could channel that sadness into building a really great event,” LoCicero said. “It has been a hard year for the family, but we just explained to the children that we can make a difference.”

The mother-daughter team have been working together, in association with the Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Foundation, to plan the event. According to LoCicero, she had expected the preparations to take longer, but the response from the community was so great that it came together in just a few months.

Graffiti’s offered to provide a location for the party and lunch for the ladies. And several local businesses, including Co-Co & Company, M Cline Designs, Aloha Surf Company, The Village Boutique, Mermaids Boutique, Tales by the Sea and Bark Avenue, have donated items for the fashion show and silent auction.

“The local community immediately got behind it,” LoCicero said. “It has really been heartwarming to see that even in bad times people still want to do something good.”

The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 8 and will celebrate survivors of breast cancer and honor the memory of the women who have died from the disease. LoCicero said the event is an opportunity for ladies from the community to get together and relax while raising money for the Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Foundation.

For tickets, which are $20 and include lunch, door prize entry and the fashion show, contact Frill Seekers Gifts at (850) 267-4438. Attendees are encouraged to don their favorite hats and wear something pink.

“Come for two hours and spend some time with your girlfriends,” LoCicero said. “It’s going to be a fun, casual event that will have a big impact.”