The Online Reflector

Earrings, keychains, t-shirts, hats and baked goods were just a few of the items sold throughout Pink Week by Indianapolis Student Government and many registered student organizations at the tables outside the cafeteria in Schwitzer Student Center.  Although they sold different items, the students were all working for a single cause—to end breast cancer.
According to Student Activities Coordinator Stephanie Barry, Pink Week was a success. She said that the groups raised just more than $2,900. She added that the total would probably increase, as some groups were not finished with all of their fundraising efforts. She said that when all of the money is collected, she will write checks to both the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Pink Ribbon Connection.

Nursing majors (from left) freshman Madison Ray, senior Robert Benefiel, freshman Amy Hehman, freshman Courtney Kinnard and sophomore Katie Fulkerson sell items to support breast cancer awareness.

Although she oversees Pink Week activities, Barry said that the events only happen because students really want to support breast cancer awareness.
“There’s no pressure on any group to do anything. It’s all from them, the student organizations, and that’s why we do it,” she said. “ … Yeah, we coordinate it, but it’s really from the students.”
Sophomore communication major Kahdijah “Kay” Bray, impact chair for Campus Programs Board, said that the group’s goal was to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. CPB sold hats at the tables in Schwitzer and at the football game on Oct. 26. They also hosted a lecture by Chief Operating Officer of the Komen Tissue Bank Jill Henry, who spoke on how women can donate healthy breast tissue to help find cures for breast cancer.
Barry said that the speech by Henry was very interesting because the tissue bank, located in Indianapolis, is the only one in the world that does this.
“She was able to kind of show us the process and what they’re doing. To have that resource, to know that that’s right here in Indiana, is really interesting.”
Barry said that she would like to have Henry come back and speak multiple times next year. According to Barry, even after Henry explained the tissue collection process, many students said that they would be interested in donating.
“She kind of walked through it and all of that,” Barry said. “And there are opportunities if you don’t want to donate your tissue, that you can still volunteer your time when they do drives.”
According Bray, Pink Week may start and end on a schedule, but that does not mean that cancer stops. She said that she wants Pink Week to encourage students, especially female students, to be involved year-round.
“I would suggest that all females of all ages, for one, volunteer your time. Take time out to go to all the different clinics, different areas,” she said. “Look up on the Susan G. Komen website how you can donate your time with women who are going through the stages.”
Bray said that CPB wants to spread the word that finding a cure for breast cancer is everyone’s responsibility, because everyone is at some risk of developing it. She said that, with college and work, students often live in their own little worlds, and they do not realize how big a problem breast cancer is. She said that it should be taken seriously, because any woman can contract breast cancer.
“Anytime I see anything for breast cancer, I’m all for helping and supporting it, because I can get it. Anyone can get it,” she said. “…You know, your life is on the line.”
However, Bray said that her reasons for getting involved are more personal. According to Bray, doctors thought that a family member could have breast cancer. Although they later learned that it was something less serious, she said that this experience pushed her to volunteer her time. She said that she wants to encourage others to do the same.
“It was important to me, because I know a few women myself that have actually gone through the stages of almost thinking they have breast cancer,” she said. “ … So it really hits close to home when it comes to the fact of knowing that other people are out there supporting or trying to find a cure.”