At age 76, the late Carolyn Annas had a lot to live for.
She was a retired Valdese Elementary School teacher — loved and respected by the hundreds of students who passed through her classroom during her 30 years in public education.
She was an active member of Valdese First Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir, played the handbells, taught Sunday School, and served in any other ways she could.
And, she was devoted to her family — husband Wayne, daughter Michelle, and son Christopher, and the two young women she deemed her pride and joy, granddaughters Avery and Austin.
Yes, Carolyn Annas had a lot to live for, but an aggressive form of breast cancer intervened and she died on Jan. 20, 2021.
Remembering her mother’s legacy and working to ensure that breast cancer screenings are available to all Burke women, regardless of their ability to pay, are two reasons Michelle Rogers is helping organize a special fundraiser for the Making Pink Possible Fund.
Annette Skidmore and Michelle Rogers ready to greet the day at Lucky Dogs Food Truck.
The Making Pink Possible fund, through the Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation, raises money to provide lifesaving mammography services for uninsured and underinsured women in Burke and surrounding counties.
The Putting for the Pink golf tournament and the Lake James Dragon Boat Festival are two other events held each year to raise money for the fund.
Michelle, herself a retired teacher who eight years ago founded the Lucky Dogs food truck, is partnering with Hot Shots Espresso and My Mobile Bakery in the fundraising effort.
The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church in downtown Morganton.
Featured during the day will be a host of different coffees and breakfast drinks provided by Hot Shots, fresh baked goods from My Mobile Bakery, and, of course, hot dogs of every size and description from Lucky Dogs.
“We’ve tried to do some sort of fundraiser for breast cancer every year since Momma died,” said Michelle, standing outside her food truck in Rutherford College where customers were already queuing up before the 11 a.m. opening time.
“We’ve sold T-shirts, we’ve sponsored raffles, but this year I wanted to do something that would allow me to partner with others and that would be more accessible to the entire community,” she added.
“The great thing about all three of these businesses is that we’re entirely local,” Michelle continued. “It’s also incorporating three of the longest-running food trucks in the county.”
Spencer Benfield puts the day’s first group of hot dogs on the grill at Lucky Dogs Food Truck.
Now, to respond to a question any dedicated hot dog eater would ask, “Will it be possible to get an 8 a.m. hot dog for breakfast that day?”
“No,” responded Michelle with a laugh. “Coffees and baked goods will be available starting at 8 a.m., but we probably won’t fire up the grill for the dogs until around 10 a.m.”
For Michelle, the upcoming fundraiser is about more than honoring her mother’s memory. It’s about helping ensure that other women have access to the screenings that can detect breast cancer early and potentially save their lives.
Carolyn Annas left behind a legacy of teaching, service, and love for her family. Through her daughter’s efforts, and with the support of the Burke community, that legacy continues to make a difference in the lives of others.
