Phoenix breast cancer events highlight awareness month
Marissa Villarreal
As fall approaches, we take a moment to recognize those who have passed, those fighting, and those who have survived the battle of breast cancer.
October is acknowledged as the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness through many organizations, fundraisers, charities and other events.
It is almost impossible to meet someone who has gone unaffected by not only cancer, and the number of breast cancer patients continues to increase.
Simon Burr, a student at MCC, has been affected by breast cancer since his freshman year when his step-mother was diagnosed but has been cancer-free now for four years.
“We have always gone to the breast cancer race for the cure, even before my step mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I guess it was a cause that my family felt necessary to support,” he said.
According to Breastcancer.org, “In 2011 an estimated 230,480 new cases of breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.”
Men can also be affected by breast cancer as well.
About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2011 as reported Breastcancer.org.
Throughout the community, there will be a number of charitable fundraisers to help raise awareness and money to find a cure for breast cancer.
One event is The Fashionably Pink Celebrity Fashion Show held on Wednesday, Oct. 3.
Phoenix’s own breast cancer survivors and special guest celebrities will model all of the designer’s most elegant products, as 100 percent of the proceeds and donations go to the Susan G. Koman for the Cure Foundation.
General Admission Runway tickets will be $75 per person.
Another way to take part in the fight against breast cancer is by participating in the many walks throughout the Valley.
On Sun., Oct. 7, the Salt River Project will be hosting “The City of Hope Walk For Hope” in Tempe. The City of Hope is a cancer research organization dedicated to finding cures for women related diseases.
The Susan G. Koman’s annual “5k Race for the Cure” will be held on Oct. 14, at the State Capital District in Phoenix
Another event brought to the valley by the American Cancer Association this October is the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The walk hopes to promote awareness of breast cancer as well as all other cancer diseases.
The association plans to bring in funds to help support research, education, patient support, and other advocacy programs. Just this year alone, Arizona has already raised around $87,000.
The walk will take place at Tempe Beach Park on Oct. 27.
When asked about what he believes the student body should do, Simon firmly believes there needs to be more recognition and awareness.
“I think students should stay educated through organizations like the race for the cure because people don’t realize that it can effect just about anyone.”
“It’s more common than we think,” he said.
Susan G. Koman has raised more than $2 billion since 1982, and raises more than $35 million every year through charities in over 124 countries.
