| MBCC members and volunteers with Mr KC Cheng of the Bangsar Baru Business Council | 
| Catherine of Estee Lauder does her magic on Siew Hwee Lien | 
| Kanahes, Mei Quin, Ranbir, Lynn and Ranjit in Chabenor, The Salon | 
| Models “jump for joy” in front of Telawi Street Bistro | 
| Ranbir, Mei Quin, Kanahes, Evelyn, Lynn and Juwita in front of Telawi Street Bistro | 
| Pink revelers make themselves comfortable at Chinoz |
The Making of OPN – OutRageously PINK Nite – Part 1
By Dr Evelyn Ho
OutRageously PINK Nite began with the coming together of members of the protem committee of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council on the evening of 17 April 2004. at La Bodega Deli, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. The idea for the project was conceived in 2003, immediately after PINK October – the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The meeting kicked off with a big bang when the skies opened up in spectacular fashion (aka thunderstorm!) and some members were drenched by the time they arrived at the meeting.
Mr KC Cheng, the Executive Secretary of the Bangsar Baru Business Council sat with us as we brainstormed and set a date for a party – a pink party where everyone would be encouraged to dress in pink. The more outrageous and creative, the better. The primary objective was to portray breast health awareness as a fun and healthy activity. The presence of many breast cancer survivors as volunteers distributing “goody” bags would be ample proof that “Early Detection Saves Lives”.
There was no better place to hold this than in Bangsar, Lembah Pantai – the home constituency of our dedicated Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. YB Dato’ Seri Shahrizat is Patron of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council.
To promote the event, a photoshoot on 28 April evening was conducted. Breast cancer survivors and representatives of the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council, came in their best pink outfits and were bursting with enthusiasm. Estee Lauder, in support of the event, sent 2 of their make up artists – Mecia Loh and Catherine to do the makeup for the “models”. Chabenor, The Salon in Jalan Telawi 2 was most generous in allowing the use of part of their salon for the make up and preparation of the models (all were volunteers) for the photoshoot. The team was in Chabenor from 5pm to 6.30pm.
6.30pm saw a bevy of pink-clad beauties hitting the streets, starting at Telawi Street Bistro. The team, made up of supporters and models and photographer drew stares and curious glances. Some passersby even joked about wanting to join in the group photography. With KC Cheng introducing the group to various establishments, the models sat on the tables in front of Chinoz, danced inside Bar Flam’s and even hugged the parking meter in front of Starbucks! The only men as “models” were Lim Ching Wei and KC Cheng – and they had pink scarfs to blend in with the ladies in pink.
The window period for photography was short – our photographer, Francis Lee had planned for shots in the twilight. The group had to walk and pose, dance, smile and even jump on demand. Although physically exhausted, everyone had a good time and had worked up an appetite. Dinner was at Mak Koh, and each dish was consumed with relish and rapidly demolished by the famished!
As dinner was ending, it rained – fortunately, not earlier! The organizing committee for the OutRageously PINK Nite (OPN) then traipsed in the rain to Telawi Street Bistro (TST) to discuss with the outlet manager, Dan Thompson on the feasibility of TST being the venue for the Guest of Honour to launch the OPN.
By 30 April 2004, it was confirmed – Telawi Street Bistro would be the venue for the Launch of OPN. The organizing committee then got cracking on the various other items of “Things To Do”. D-day was 11 June 2004, Friday night.
Join us again for more reports of the run up to OPN (inclusive of the OPN event) in the Making of OPN – Part 2.
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