National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which began 27 years ago, helps raise awareness of breast cancer in October and teaches women and men the steps to detect breast cancer in its early stages.
This month, St. John’s has been doing many things around campus to bring awareness to this disease. Many different groups have taken part in the awareness raising process, from teachers passing out brochures, residence halls holding fund-raisers and sports teams holding games to raise money for non-profits that support the cause.
On Oct. 4, St. John’s athletes participated in the Fun-Run. The Fun-Run was a project where the students decorated the campus with large pink bows to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer. Later on that day, the campus ministry sponsored a High-Heel-A-Thon. This activity was for the men on campus to show their support for breast cancer by taking a run in women’s shoes. A few days later, the women’s soccer team showed their support with the “Score for a Cure” event during their game. The residents of Henley Hall held a bake sale on Oct. 10, but the support doesn’t end here.
The American Cancer Society committee is organizing a living ribbon of hope on the great lawn on Oct. 18. This ribbon is being used to “show solidarity with our loved one’s who have seen more birthdays because of the advances of treatment and recovery,” the Office of Community Relations said.
The final event that St. John’s University will be throwing for Breast Cancer Awareness month will be the Walkathon. It will be held on Oct. 21 and will be hosted by the ACS as well. On the day of the walk, refreshments and transportation will be provided. Buses will begin to take all participants to the Unisphere of Flushing Meadows Corona Park at 8:30am, and end after all registered walkers are present at the park. These same buses will return
students to campus after the event.
The sign-up for this event will be held in the D’Angelo Center. During the sign up students will also be able to turn in registration and buy “pink” items from the ACS. All funds raised will be given to the American Cancer Society in order to fund research for cures.
