October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and members of the St. Joseph’s University, New York community marked the occasion with a variety of events. Throughout October, students, faculty, staff and alumni hosted or attended events aimed at educating, advocating for and supporting those affected by breast cancer.
Making Strides of Brooklyn
On the Brooklyn Campus, students gathered in Tuohy Hall Auditorium on Oct. 14 to make signs and friendship bracelets for the Making Strides of Brooklyn breast cancer awareness walk along the Coney Island boardwalk. Held on Oct. 25, the walk attracted many members of the SJNY community including the sisters of Beta Upsilon Delta sorority. The Brooklyn-based sorority also invited fellow students to “Pie a Beta” in support of breast cancer awareness.
Dig Pink with the Brooklyn Bears
Across campus in the Hill Center, the SJNY Brooklyn Bears volleyball team wore pink during its match against its Long Island counterparts, the Golden Eagles, on Oct. 27. The event was held in recognition of Dig Pink, a movement started by the Side-Out Foundation that encourages volleyball teams across America to raise awareness of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Workshop
Meanwhile, the University partnered with the Weill Cornell Medicine Meyer Cancer Center to host a breast cancer awareness workshop on Oct. 28 in Tuohy Hall Auditorium. During the workshop, led by Claudia Duarte, community outreach coordinator for Weill Cornell Medicine, students learned facts about breast cancer, including how to spot early signs and what they can do to take charge of their health.
Duarte delivered an informative slideshow presentation that covered the definition of cancer, the symptoms of breast cancer, cancer screening tests and tools, and the roles of mammography and breast MRI in detecting breast cancer. She also shared other potentially lifesaving information.
Duarte also shared YouTube videos featuring breast cancer survivors, including a male survivor. She noted that because breast cancer is generally associated with women, men are often overlooked or may not take action when they experience symptoms.
Making Strides of Long Island
On the University’s Long Island Campus, Delta Phi Epsilon sorority hosted a bracelet sale in the Student Center on Oct. 14 to help fund breast cancer research. Members of the sorority also joined others from SJNY at the Making Strides of Long Island walk at Jones Beach on Oct. 18, including students from Theta Phi Alpha and the Golden Eagles Dance Team.
