Students raise breast cancer awareness

oard (SAAB) promoted breast cancer awareness with its pink themed "Save the Girls" event  at the South Austin Campus on April 20.

The event, organized by SAAB Director of Diversity Mariana Pedroza, featured volunteer information for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other volunteer groups in Austin, free pink cupcakes and a raffle drawing.

According to Pedroza, the purpose of this event was to inform students about the dangers and realities of breast cancer.     

"I have a couple of family members that actually fought breast cancer," said Pedroza. "I thought that this would be a good event to make people aware of fighting cancer, and see if anyone wants to join the cause."

Pedroza invited Quinn Gold, a volunteer from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to attend the event and raise student awareness by providing  information about breast cancer services and activism.

Gold shared information about the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure which will occur in Austin this November. She also made students aware of the fact that organizations such as Planned Parenthood offer free mammograms.

"Whether you're uninsured or under-insured, there are a lot of ways that you can get mammograms paid for by Texas," said Gold.

Gold emphasized that early detection is the best way to fight breast cancer.

"That was one of the things that my mom was lucky with," Gold said.  "She detected it in an early enough stage, so we were able to nip it in the bud."

Gold stressed the importance of awareness and recognized ACC's efforts. "It's great that [ACC] is educating women about self-breast checks," Gold said.  

According to Gold, one in seven women is affected by breast cancer.  

"It's an epidemic more than a disease," said Gold.

Mambwe Oni, a business administration major, thought it was great to be able to attend an event like this. Oni said it was neat to see people giving their time for such noble causes like breast cancer awareness. Because so many people are affected by breast cancer, she thinks that knowing information about the disease can be very helpful.

"[Maybe you] know somebody who might have the disease,  and maybe they don't know where to go and are lacking information," said Oni. "The one or two pieces that you pick up from an event like this can actually mean the difference in someone's life being saved."