Pink Pumpkins: A way to honor a beloved mother and those who Walk for a Cure

By ELLYN SANTIAGO

Teri Smith’s mother had breast cancer, and shortly after her last round of chemo, complications from other illnesses and a stroke took her life.

Teri, now 70, also would face her own breast cancer diagnosis in recent years but noted that she was lucky: “It was small, and they caught it early. Only my immediate family knew, and my knitting group, who were all so supportive.” Teri said she knows and has known “too many” women who faced and battled breast cancer. ”There is a camaraderie among women who have had breast cancer,” she said.

Teri chose to honor and celebrate her life in a way that would, over time, become a message of love, hope, and support to those battling breast cancer.

“We lost our mom 22 years ago. We did a special day at the garden in May on the anniversary of her death,” Teri said. “Then my husband suggested we do it in October to celebrate her birthday.”

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and her mother battled breast cancer, it all came together.

Owner of Smith’s Acres in Niantic, Teri came up with the idea of painting pumpkins pink and decorating them to line the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk for a Cure Across Southeastern CT route. Since 2012, a group of mostly women paint the pumpkins one day, and the next, a group of (mostly) women gather to decorate those pumpkins.

2012 - Volunteers Susan Kumro, Danielle Sherry, Bethany Benack at the birth of the annual two-day Smith Acres pumpkin painting and decorating event in support of Niantic Main Street Paint the Town Pink — 2012 - Volunteers Susan Kumro, Danielle Sherry, Bethany Benack at the inaugural annual two-day Smith Acres pumpkin painting and decorating event in support of Niantic Main Street Paint the Town Pink

“We had people putting up pink pumpkins, and then we started getting a group of women who came and painted them and decorated them, and over time it morphed into a more efficient operation,” she said. “It’s a nice way to remember and honor my mom, and the people walking for a cure.”

The Pink Pumpkins became something very special to Niantic.

2015: TBBCF Board Vice-President Pamela Morris Watt with another pumpkin decorating volunteer, Lisa Belliveau

“We decorated Main Street. I live on Main Street and the first time we did that, honestly, the walk home was so emotional,” she said, noting that not only residents but businesses have been “very supportive.”

Niantic's nonprofit downtown revitalization organization, Niantic Main Street, really gets involved. And Waterford Cheerleaders help ‘Paint the Town Pink’ with the pumpkins and help line the TBBCF Walk route.

Teri said people, mostly from Niantic but many other nearby communities, are always “very moved” by the vibrant and decorated-with-love Pink Pumpkins.

And, the painting and decorating of the Pink Pumpkins is a very social affair. Women, and the occasional man, come from all over the area, not just Niantic, to get in on the fun for a cure at Smith’s Acres to create the most beautifully decorated pink pumpkins. “We gather and it’s a fun experience. Some bring wine. We laugh, commiserate, and create.”

When asked if the Smith’s Pink Pumpkins has an end date, Teri said it won’t stop until there’s a cure.

“There’s no end date,” she said. “When I’m not here painting, my daughter will keep it going.”

2024 Gallery featuring many TBBCF volunteers and that occasional male.