Martin turns pink for Anna Kate

MARTIN, Tenn. — If you drive through the city of Martin, you’ll notice there are a lot of pink bows around town, and one little girl has inspired this colorful show of support.

“She is our hero. She gives us hope,” Katie Perry, a family friend, said.

Martin is turning pink this week in support of one of their most beloved citizens.

“All you have to do is see a picture of her smiling face and you fall in love with her,” Martin Police Chief Don Teal said.

Anna Kate Wenz was diagnosed last year with a brain tumor, and the community has become extended family fighting to save the youngest Wenz.

“Every day has been focused on not wasting any time, and that is how we should all live is not wasting any time,” family friend Angelique Stringer said.

Last Friday, Anna Kate’s doctors discharged her from St. Jude with what friends are saying was the worst prognosis, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from doing what they can to help.

Her dad, Mike Wenz, is a police officer at the Martin Police Department, and Chief Teal said everyone in the department has been pitching in since the diagnosis.

“The department came together. All the employees volunteered their sick time for Mike, so he will not miss a paycheck,” Chief Teal said.

Her mom, Jennifer, works at Westview High School as an art teacher, and the students and faculty have done what they can to help.

“The students raised money today to buy the bicycle and the jeep for Anna Kate, to providing meals for the family to paying their cell phone bills and their electricity bill,” Westview Principal Jeromy Davidson said.

The community is welcoming their warrior princess and her family home from their Disney World adventures next week by painting the town pink — Anna Kate’s favorite color — and many in Martin say this little girl defines their community.

“We wanted to be able to show them that the community was behind them and let them see that,” family friend Weslee Hill said.

“She is Martin. She is such a lovely little girl,” Chief Teal said.

The bow fundraiser has raised more than $10,000 just on Friday, and they are still taking orders for more bows next week.

For information on where you can donate or find out how to help, click here.