September 29, 2014
Breast cancer awareness events include new scholarship
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s new “Start Seeing Pink” initiative is both a breast cancer awareness campaign featuring a variety of special events and the launch pad for a new scholarship.
The Saluki Strength Breast Cancer Fund will award scholarships and additional assistance to SIU students impacted by breast cancer. Students, faculty, staff and the public will have the opportunity to contribute toward the new fund and participate in a variety of activities during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The fund will establish an annual scholarship presented to a junior or senior SIU student with a GPA of 2.5 or above whose life is impacted in some way by breast cancer. Scholarship details are being finalized, but the application will include an essay where students explain breast cancer’s effect on them. Plans call for the inaugural scholarship award to take place for the 2015-2016 academic year.
One of the highlights of SIU’s “Start Seeing Pink” month will be the Human Pink Ribbon photo at noon, Oct. 17, on the Saluki practice football field. Everyone is welcome to join Interim Chancellor Paul Sarvela in forming a human ribbon of pink to increase awareness about breast cancer.
Student Center Bowling and Billiards will host Pink Ribbon Bowl Oct. 18, inviting teams for competitive and fun bowling to raise money for the Saluki Strength Breast Cancer Fund. Donations will be accepted at the Student Center and other on-campus locations for special pink ribbons and pink awareness bracelets all month long with proceeds going to the fund.
There is also an opportunity to join friends and play “Big Pink Volleyball,” literally using a big pink volleyball, at 5 p.m., Oct. 20, at the Student Recreation Center.
The activities culminate with the annual “Be My Bra” event at 5 p.m., Oct. 29, at the Student Health Center. Campus groups, departments, registered student organizations and fraternities and sororities will decorate bras and share the stories behind their creations in a contest that always draws a big crowd.
In addition, the SIU volleyball team is hosting the “Dig for the Cure” volleyball game against Loyola University on Friday, Oct. 3, and the SIU School of Medicine is sponsoring the sale of SIU BRA (Breast Reconstruction Awareness) Day shirts. Proceeds of the shirt sales will go toward care for breast cancer reconstruction patients. See siumed.edu/braday for details.
Details on all of the SIU “Start Seeing Pink” events are at studentcenter.siu.edu/pink. People can also donate directly to the Saluki Strength Breast Cancer Fund on the website.