Around campus and beyond, Kean University students took initiative during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) hosted poster making sessions early in the month. Two sessions occurred in October, one on Wednesday, October 5 and the other on Tuesday, October 18. Attendees were able to make posters that were later displayed at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks.
The Office of Residential Student Services partnered with CLS to host a bracelet making session on Tuesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. These bracelets were made to help spread awareness of breast cancer.
On Tuesday, October 18, the Sigma Beta Chi Sorority hosted their Pink Pumpkin Contest in the Miron Student Center Greek Lounge. Contestants decorated their own unique pumpkins in hopes of winning a special prize.
The Breast Cancer Walks happened on Sunday, October 16 and Sunday, October 23 at Middlesex County College in Edison, NJ. The walks were part of the Making Strides movement which seeks to end breast cancer through fundraising events.
To end the month of activities, the Pan-African Student Union and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion came together to host Ballin’ for Breast Cancer.
Ballin' for Breast Cancer was a charity event to help spread awareness and raise funds for breast cancer treatment. This basketball event started at 7:30 p.m. in the Harwood Arena Gym and all proceeds went to the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation. This organization works to give under-resourced and disadvantaged women access to high quality cancer treatment.
At Ballin’ for Breast Cancer two teams, pink shirts vs. black shirts, faced off in a basketball game. Members of the Kean community cheered on from the stands, accompanied by the night's honorees; women who battled with breast cancer.
Senior Psychology Major Keisha Francois attended the event because of her interest in Greek Life and to support the cause. As a woman, she supports raising awareness and urges women to be screened for breast cancer.
“Being a woman, I do support breast cancer awareness,” said Francois. “[Breast Cancer] is something that we deal with [and] struggle with a lot.”
Like Francois, Senior Anyah Dudley went to the event to support the cause and enjoy the game. To Dudley, the purpose of breast cancer awareness events is to not only bring awareness, but to raise funds.
“I kind of miss watching basketball," said Dudley. “I used to play in high school, so it’s exciting to see a game again.”
Samantha Williams, a sophomore studying sociology, came out to cheer on a friend who was playing that night. Williams believes breast cancer awareness events are opportunities to “learn more about breast cancer, donate [and] make people more aware of how it affects the people around them.”
Williams urges friends and family members who know those with breast cancer to give support by “showing up for them [and] being there for them when they need to talk to you."
Like Williams, those attending had words of encouragement for people suffering from breast cancer.
"Be strong and don't give up," said Francois.
"[Don't] give up and keep going. [People will] still support you no matter what," said Dudley.
