A kickoff party in Fairfield celebrated the start of the town's Pink Pledge breast cancer awareness program's 10th year.

Marle Battista, who co-founded Pink Pledge, admitted she was a little surprised at just how much Fairfield has embraced the idea, saying, "we were trying to figure out a way that can involve the entire community, and little by little, that's how it's grown."

The idea is simple: for the entire month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, businesses, groups and anyone in Fairfield who wants to, including the local schools, all find ways to raise money for the Norma Pfriem Breast Center, which provides care both during and after treatment for breast cancer patients.

As Jennifer Jennings, a survivor of breast cancer explained, the center "was really the place that put me back together again after treatment."

While the center boasts countless similar success stories over the last 25 years, its development program manager Meghan McCloat says that unfortunately, "the need in our community for the patients just continues to rise each and every year. The onset age for breast cancer is unfortunately getting younger and younger."

That means there continues to be a need for programs and nights like this, but McCloat says the kickoff event is not something somber.

"It's a tremendous celebration for us all, and we look around and see so much love and hope in the community of Fairfield," she says.

That community spirit was on display with just how many people turned out - turning everything from trees to lights to police cars and fire trucks pink.

Battista says more than just a symbol - it's also an important way to build awareness.

"Pink gets attention, attention for breast cancer, and it gets attention for getting your mammogram," she says.

Organizers say early detection is a key factor in beating breast cancer, and they have tried to make the entire Pink Pledge program both inclusive and fun - even featuring Fairfield's first-ever drone show at Friday's party - to try to get as many people involved as possible.

They admit it might be a different way of attacking breast cancer, but they hope after 10 years, it is also a way that has made a difference.

"It's very humbling to see this come together the way that it has, and grow - it's grown every single year," Battista said. "The town has really shown us that you know what? It matters."