The New Brunswick Breast and Women's Cancer Partnership kicked off a unique fundraiser in Memramcook, N.B., on Saturday with pastel-coloured pumpkins.

The group works to provide resources to women battling cancer in what they've identified as underserved areas in the province, including First Nations women and Francophones living in rural areas.

It's the non-profit's first ever fundraiser, despite being active for more than a decade.

“We want it to be wide spread, and be there at the right time for the right person, with the right resources. That is a challenge right now,” said Clair LeBlanc of the New Brunswick Breast and Women's Cancer Partnership.

So the women decided to grow hope – literally. The concept for the fundraiser started back in May when the groups got together to grow a special kind of pumpkin.

These pumpkins fade from deep yellow to light pink, a sign of solidarity for the women receiving life-altering news every day.

“When you're told that you have cancer, it knocks the wind out of your sails. This peer support brings it back,” said LeBlanc.

“People that've been through that, we find each other. You just do. And that's a hope thing. It's huge,” said cancer survivor Emily Beckett.

Beckett was diagnosed with a form of breast cancer earlier this year, and credits prevention efforts for catching a lump quickly.

“Heaven only knows where I would have been if I hadn't had a mammogram to catch that little pea-sized bugger that was inside me,” she said.

Attendees are sharing their stories at the pink pumpkin bazaar for the rest of the long weekend. The women say the mood is triumphant.

“Oftentimes when we talk about cancer people talk about fear. That's not what this was about at all today. It was about hope and inspiration,” said Ginette Petitpas Taylor, MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe.

LeBlanc credits peer support for helping many get through.

“When you can speak with someone that can share her experience with cancer, not to tell you what to do but to tell you, 'These are some of the things I've done, these are someone of the things you could do,'” she said.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Cami Kepke.