It’s that time of year again — time to break out the pink clothing and décor in support of breast cancer awareness.

Today marks the eighth-annual Paint the Town Pink event throughout Washington and beyond. Participants are asked to wear their Paint the Town T-shirts or anything pink, and a slew of businesses are decking out their buildings with splashes of pink, as well.

Tanya Dixon, manager of Eastern Radiologists and event organizer, said Paint the Town is a two-fold show of support. Money is raised for the Shepard Cancer Foundation through T-shirt sales, and the business decorations serve to raise awareness for breast cancer, she said.

If Paint the Town supporters wear their shirts into one of the participating businesses — or “pink partners” — they might also get a discount or other promotional offer, Dixon said.

“(Friday), the big push is awareness,” she said.

Despite Hurricane Matthew moving along the East Coast, Dixon said the weather has not hurt this year’s participation. She said T-shirt sales slowed earlier in the week, but have since picked back up again.

“Normally, it’s a sellout every year. People start calling in August,” Dixon said.

Last year’s initiative raised $12,500 for the foundation, about $2,000 more than the previous year.

“The Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center and the Shepard Cancer Foundation are so appreciative of the community’s support of Paint the Town Pink,” stated Pam Shadle, marketing and public relations manager at Vidant Beaufort Hospital. “We are appreciative of Eastern Radiologists and the attention that they bring to the importance of early detection of breast cancer through Paint the Town Pink.”

Dixon said she gets nervous every year before the T-shirts debut, but there hasn’t been a year since the event’s inception in 2009 when participants didn’t jump on board.

She said there are still a few T-shirts left. They can be purchased at locations including: Eastern Radiologists, Vidant Beaufort Hospital and the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center.

“So far, we haven’t had one that’s been a dud,” Dixon said. “Every year we do it, it’s exciting.”

For more information, call Tanya Dixon at 252-931-7722, or email Tanya@easternrad.com.