Riverton's Porch 'Mardi Gras' Returns

Riverton's famous porches will once again serve as a backdrop for the borough's second "Paint the Porch Pink" Breast Cancer Walk, with all the money from this year's walk going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Organizer Pat Brunker said the event, first held in 2011, sprang from a conversation among members of the Porch Club of Riverton.

"It was just a bunch of ladies sitting around and talking about how breast cancer is affecting so many people we know," she said. 

Fellow club member Carol McCarthy suggested the walk, and the idea of decorating the porches in pink and bringing in musicians, because, she said, "I wanted this walk primarily to be fun. I wanted it to be accessible to everyone."

And since "Riverton is a town of porches," merging the idea of a breast cancer walk—already a popular phenomenon—with live porch entertainment seemed a natural fit, McCarthy said.

Residents eagerly volunteer to have their porches featured on the walk, she said. "There's a lot of pride in just having those porches featured."

Sen. Diane Allen will kick off the walk at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2, by reading a proclamation. Riverton Mayor Bill Brown will also speak prior to the three-mile stroll through the borough.

Seven porches, each with a different performer, will be featured on the walk. The live music, presented by Circle of Friends, is as follows:

• Christ Church: Stillwaters Gospel Band
• Porch 1: John Byrne 
• Porch 2: Nikki Sbaffoni
• Porch 3: Griz
• Porch 4: Jonathan Clifton
• Porch 5: Camielle Peruto and Donovan Moore
• Porch 6: Marc Silver and Ryan Williams
• Porch 7: Mark Brown

Other activities will include free pink hair painting, face painting, jugglers, and balloons for children. There are also many raffle items, including a handmade quilt done by the Porch Club’s Stitchery Committee.

Registration for the walk is $25 ($5 for kids ages 6-12, and free for younger children). Pre-registration is encouraged. Same-day registration will be held at the Porch Club at Fourth and Howard streets, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

More than 400 people participated in the 2011 walk, according to Brunker. "We were amazed."

The group raised about $15,000 that year and are hoping to do even better this year, she said.

Those who registered before by May 24 were guaranteed a commemorative T-shirts; same-day registrants will receive shirts while supplies last.

A pre-registration form can be found on the official website at: www.painttheporchpink.org. Walkers may also pre-register in at the New Leaf Gift Shop, 606 Main St., and
 the Riverton Library, 306 Main St.

The official start of the walk is at Fourth and Main streets, in front of Christ Episcopal Church, rain or shine. 

Pets are welcome.

"It's just a big Mardi Gras," McCarthy said.