Tuesday evenings at Otay Ranch Town Center already feel familiar. The farmers market fills up Main Street, the smell of grilled food drifts through the center, and families wander from booth to booth deciding what’s for dinner. Tomorrow night, that weekly routine gets a splash of pink and a whole lot of heart, and I’m planning to be right in the middle of it.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the center is hosting Breathe & Believe, United in Pink! On Tuesday, October 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the main outdoor Food Pavilion. It’s free, it’s open to everyone, and it blends a relaxed night out with a cause that has touched so many families here in Chula Vista.
What’s Happening at Breathe & Believe
Free Yoga Flow with Namaste Fitness
Namaste Fitness, one of the center’s own wellness studios and a participant in Spring Into Fitness earlier this year, is leading two free 30-minute Yoga Flow classes. The first starts at 5 p.m. and the second at 6 p.m., so you can pick whichever fits your evening. Half an hour is the perfect amount of time to stretch out the workday, and you don’t need to be an experienced yogi to join in. Just wear something comfortable.
Pink Shirts, Treats and Music
The evening has a fun side, too. You can decorate your own T-shirt to take home, grab a few treats, and enjoy music while you hang out. If you’re bringing kids, the shirt station alone should keep them busy for a while.
The Warrior Wall
The heart of the night is an oversized “Warrior Wall” where anyone can place a personalized pink ribbon. Each ribbon can honor someone currently fighting breast cancer, celebrate a survivor, or remember a loved one lost to the disease.
I think most of us can name at least one person whose life has been changed by breast cancer. Having a place to stop, write their name, and see it alongside so many others from our community is a simple gesture, but it means a lot.
Spreading the Word on Early Detection
The Helen Knoll Foundation will be on hand to share information about early detection, with a special focus on ensuring younger women know about the screening options available to them. The foundation has teamed up with Otay Ranch Town Center in past years, and their message is one worth hearing: catching it early matters. You’ll also find information on local women’s health and breast health services, and the foundation will gladly accept donations at the event. If you can’t make it out, you can still donate to The Helen Knoll Foundation online.
Otay Ranch Town Center General Manager Tim Kilcourse says the month is about two things for the center: getting education and screening resources in front of local residents, and celebrating the warriors in this fight.
“This evening brings together the power of hope, energy and community when it comes to fighting this disease,” Kilcourse said.
Make a Night of It at the Farmers Market
Here’s the best part. Breathe & Believe lines up perfectly with the Otay Ranch Town Center Farmers Market, and with the nice weather lately, the market has been running until 8 p.m. on Main Street. Come out a little early, grab dinner, pick up fresh produce for the week, then head to the Food Pavilion for yoga or add a ribbon to the Warrior Wall.
My plan is simple. I’m grabbing my usual from Tiger Sticks, their chicken skewer with veggies and rice, then heading over to the Warrior Wall. If you’ve never tried them, tomorrow is a great excuse.
It’s also shaping up to be a beautiful evening weather-wise. Fall nights like this are exactly why we live in San Diego, so why not get outside and enjoy it?
Event Details
- What: Breathe & Believe, United in Pink!
- When: Tuesday, October 20, 5 to 7 p.m. (Yoga Flow at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.)
- Where: Main outdoor Food Pavilion, Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista
- Cost: Free (donations to The Helen Knoll Foundation welcome)
Whether you’re coming for the yoga, the Tiger Sticks, or to honor someone you love, tomorrow night is a great chance to show up for each other. For more happenings around town, check out the Chula Vista Living event calendar, and follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @livingchulavista. Hope to see you out there in pink!
