On Thursday, October 9, 2014 Pan African Student Union [PASU] hosted Kean University’s first ever Balling for Breast Cancer event—a charity basketball game for breast cancer awareness. It was a success for not only the team that won the game that night, but for PASU and the Sisters Network Inc. Essex County chapter [SNEC]. Not only did the crowd enjoy a friendly basketball game, but also enjoyed the speech made by speaker Cathy Cooper, who is a part of SNEC.

Over 500 people showed up to see the Barbra Jean Little team and the Theodora Gray team battle it out on the basketball court. Together however, both teams were working together to fight a much greater foe: breast cancer. Farrakhan Chambliss, a senior and film major, comments on how the game felt like it was “actually [a college basketball] game,” and how great of a turnout it was.

The game was exciting and intense as the people in the crowd chose a team to cheer for. Throughout the game the Little team had kept a steady lead against the Gray team, which eventually led the Little team into victory. But what was more of a victory than the Little team winning the game was the amount of money that was raised for breast cancer awareness. The total amount of money raised by donations during the game, as well as the tabling that PASU had done, came out to be approximately $1,070 dollars. Anyone who was in attendance for the event should feel proud of themselves  because every dollar that was donated is now supporting  a great cause.

As mentioned earlier, Cooper gave a speech at the game. She spoke profoundly about her experience with breast cancer, as well as why she is part of the SNEC. She gave a great speech that touched the hearts of many; and many people can relate to the story Cooper told, as many have encountered breast cancer personally, or have been caught in the midst of a family members encounter with the terrible disease

Mia Sapp, president of PASU, comments on the game and how it “is an enormous step for PASU.”  The step for PASU aimed to bring “the [Kean University] community together” and they did. Not only were they able to get the campus community engaged, but they were also able to donate a large sum of money to the SNEC. “PASU has also reached the goal of raising awareness for breast cancer,” Sapp continues, which is another large step for the community. With the success of the event, PASU and the rest of the Kean community have proven relentless in their efforts to support breast cancer awareness.