Kimberly Jackson says she's not really a tattoo person, but the 40-year-old wedding favor designer has two bright pink ribbons inked into her left ankle now, one for each time she survived breast cancer.

The tattoos aren't for her. They're for the people around her.

"Unless you've lost your hair, people don't know," she said.

Now she has a new way to help people remember.

Jackson designs for Kate Aspen, a Norcross-based wedding design and manufacturing wholesaler. Kate Aspen on Thursday released a set of breast cancer awareness-themed favors for wedding guests. The company is also sponsoring a team in Atlanta's Race for the Cure on Saturday.

The collection includes a frosted glass photo frame, party favor box and a plantable wildflower seed packet in the shape of a pink ribbon.

"I had to find a way to take a negative experience and make it positive," Jackson said. "I know how Pollyanna that sounds. I had to find a way to make all the crap I went through worthwhile."

Jackson was first diagnosed with breast cancer relatively young, when she was 34. Many women are first diagnosed in their 50s, she said.

Jackson lost her hair for a while. She got sick. Her former employers were less than supportive after she was diagnosed with a second bout, Jackson said.

Things are different at Kate Aspen, Jackson said. About 85 percent of the company's 62 employees are women, said Jennifer Fallon, the 4-year-old company's founder and CEO.

When Jackson approached her boss about a pink ribbon-themed collection for breast cancer support, little arm twisting was needed, Fallon said.

Kate Aspen plans to donate 10 percent of the profits from its In Favor of a Cure collection to two breast cancer survivor groups —- the Young Survival Coalition and the Making Memories Foundation.

"It makes you feel that much better, that the recipient knows they're supporting a cause," Fallon said.

Kate Aspen sells the gifts through wedding favor retailers, such as MyWeddingFavors.com. Kate Aspen's Web site is www.kateaspen.com.

2008 KOMEN ATLANTA RACE FOR THE CURE

Saturday, 6:45 a.m. registration starts, 7:45 a.m. for one-mile walk, 8:30 a.m. for 5K run-walk

Starts at the Wachovia building on 17th Street at Atlantic Station and ends at Atlantic Station.

Number of teams registered: 521

Number of participants: 12,207