By Natasha Ramaswamy | copy editorThis October, Augusta University and many different organizations around the campus hosted events throughout the month to support philanthropic efforts in curing breast cancer. One in eight women will develop some form of breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In fact, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women to the extent that it is recognized as the second leading cause of death of women worldwide.With that being said, almost everyone has been impacted by breast cancer in some way, whether that be through a journey of their own or through the journey of a loved one. Unfortunately, though research regarding new treatments for this disease has come a long way in the past decade, there is still much to be discovered if a real cure is found.The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world [to help] increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.”During the week of Oct. 16, Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) hosted a “Pink Week” to raise both money and awareness for breast cancer. On Monday, ZTA members flooded the Jaguar Student Activity Center (JSAC) ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they handed out ribbons, flyers, cotton candy and pink lemonade. Throughout the rest of the week, ZTA hosted more events such as an all-you-can-eat “Pink Pancake” dinner in the Oak Hall Connect Space and Courtyard, a Chick-fil-a “Pink Picnic,” and a “Just Dodge It Dodgeball Tournament” to raise both awareness for breast cancer and funds for ZTA philanthropic efforts towards breast cancer research.In addition, the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University hosted their annual “Pink Pumpkin Party” on Sept. 30. Here, members of Augusta and nearby Georgia communities brought their families to AU to receive breast health information from the Augusta University Breast Cancer Team. They also participate in pink pumpkin decorating contests, face painting, photo opportunities, and costume contests.In the end, October has been an opportunity for people and organizations across the Augusta area, both in AU and the nearby populations to come together for breast cancer awareness month. Together, they have worked ceaselessly to provide both information and money towards an eventual cure for this disease and to support those who are either currently affected by cancer or are cancer survivors.Due to the joint efforts of people worldwide in support of breast cancer research, October will no longer be Breast Cancer Awareness Month someday.Rather, it will be known as a month to celebrate the finding of a cure.Contact Natasha Ramaswamy at nramaswamy@augusta.edu.The story was published on October 26, 2017, in Volume 60, Issue 1, of The Bell Ringer newspaper.
By Natasha Ramaswamy | copy editorThis October, Augusta University and many different organizations around the campus hosted events throughout the month to support philanthropic efforts in curing breast cancer. One in eight women will develop some form of breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In fact, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women to the extent that it is recognized as the second leading cause of death of women worldwide.With that being said, almost everyone has been impacted by breast cancer in some way, whether that be through a journey of their own or through the journey of a loved one. Unfortunately, though research regarding new treatments for this disease has come a long way in the past decade, there is still much to be discovered if a real cure is found.The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world [to help] increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.”During the week of Oct. 16, Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) hosted a “Pink Week” to raise both money and awareness for breast cancer. On Monday, ZTA members flooded the Jaguar Student Activity Center (JSAC) ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they handed out ribbons, flyers, cotton candy and pink lemonade. Throughout the rest of the week, ZTA hosted more events such as an all-you-can-eat “Pink Pancake” dinner in the Oak Hall Connect Space and Courtyard, a Chick-fil-a “Pink Picnic,” and a “Just Dodge It Dodgeball Tournament” to raise both awareness for breast cancer and funds for ZTA philanthropic efforts towards breast cancer research.In addition, the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University hosted their annual “Pink Pumpkin Party” on Sept. 30. Here, members of Augusta and nearby Georgia communities brought their families to AU to receive breast health information from the Augusta University Breast Cancer Team. They also participate in pink pumpkin decorating contests, face painting, photo opportunities, and costume contests.In the end, October has been an opportunity for people and organizations across the Augusta area, both in AU and the nearby populations to come together for breast cancer awareness month. Together, they have worked ceaselessly to provide both information and money towards an eventual cure for this disease and to support those who are either currently affected by cancer or are cancer survivors.Due to the joint efforts of people worldwide in support of breast cancer research, October will no longer be Breast Cancer Awareness Month someday.Rather, it will be known as a month to celebrate the finding of a cure.Contact Natasha Ramaswamy at nramaswamy@augusta.edu.The story was published on October 26, 2017, in Volume 60, Issue 1, of The Bell Ringer newspaper.