Campus organizations are kicking off October by hosting events that raise awareness and educate students, staff and the community about breast cancer.
Phi Sigma Sigma Philanthropy Chair Allison Siegel, junior exercise and sports science major, said, “Everyone knows someone affected by breast cancer, whether it’s family members, friends, loved ones or even themselves, so we need to get everyone involved and aware of it.”
Phi Sigma Sigma will host “Manicure for the Cure” in the Don Taft University Center Pit on Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sorority sisters along with students from the Aveda Institute will paint nails in return for a donation. Later in the day, the sorority will also host a “pink pumpkin” decorating workshop, where people can decorate pumpkins pink for breast cancer, black for cancer in general, white for overcoming cancer, and silver for hope. Funds raised will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Siegel said that it is important to raise awareness for breast cancer because a lot of people find out they have the illness too late.
“The best way of prevention is by early detection and we just want to get people started early,” she said.
The College of Osteopathic Medicine has 47 different clubs holding events to raise awareness, but the one that President-Elect of the College, Lauren Boudreau, thinks will stand out the most is the American Medical Women’s Association’s event, where, beginning in late September, members will go door to door on the weekends. They will speak to women and give them information about breast cancer, as well as visit different South Florida neighborhoods to talk with breast cancer survivors.
“Raising awareness is crucial because breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death in women, so the more people are aware the more it can be prevented,” Boudreau said. “I think the united force of students working together to educate the populations affected by this cancer says a lot about their concern for patients’ health and the importance of advocacy.”
The association will also teach women how to do at-home breast examinations and provide them with information as to where they can get an official exam.
There will be flyers posted around the main campus, mainly in the UC, for upcoming events. For more information, contact Siegel at as2607@nova.edu or Boudreau at lb990@nova.edu.
