Auburn's campus is blushing pink this October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This is the third year Zeta Tau Alpha Gamma Rho Chapter has partnered with the University to illuminate the campus in pink lights in the effort to raise awareness about breast cancer.
The inspiration came from Estee Lauder Companies' Global Landmark Illumination Initiative which illuminates famous buildings, monuments and landmarks around the world in pink lights.
"Lighting up Cater Hall, the museum and Samford Hall certainly raises awareness about Breast Cancer," said Amber Ball, president of Zeta Tau Alpha. "When you walk by a building lit up in pink lights, you cannot ignore it. The color is so bold and so significant that you know what it stands for -- Hope. Lighting the buildings up in pink lights does not only raise awareness, but it also is a symbol of hope that we will one day find a cure."
Zeta Tau Alpha and Auburn University have added more buildings to the list every year since the project began. In 2007, Zeta Tau Alpha illuminated Cater Hall to spread the message that early detection saves lives.
In 2008, Jule Collins Smith Art Museum was included. This year, Samford Hall clock tower has its turn to "think pink."
Zeta's long term goal is to eventually illuminate the entire campus in glowing pink lights during the month of October.
"Zeta considers the fight against Breast Cancer one of our most important tasks along with the passionate pursuit of a cure together," said Cayley Mullen, Zeta philanthropy chair. "We have all been affected by this disease and seen the pain that it has caused through the fight and celebrated with those who have overcome it."
According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that in the U.S. more than 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less than one in eight.
However, breast cancer death rates have gone down as a result of more people getting screened and finding it earlier.
"Today, breast cancer is one of our No. 1 highest costs on campus," said Katherine Abrams, Zeta philanthropy chair. "In the last 12 months we have had 93 diagnosis and only 51 percent of our employees are getting screened. One of our quests is to get out there and tell our employees that we offer free mammogram screenings. We want people to use this benefit because it is a life or death situation."
But to those who shared their stories of survival on Cater Hall's steps, hearing the words "Breast Cancer" did not necessarily mean the end.
It was only the beginning of learning how to fight and get the facts and finding hope.
"This lump had been here for a very long time," said April Barber, a Verizon representative on Auburn's campus. "I told one of my work employees about it and she made me go to the doctor."
Barber's biopsy showed that she had cancer, and the tumor was about four centimeters. She was also seven months pregnant.
"I waited way too long," Barber said. "I am here today because she, my friend, was adamant that I go to the doctor and get checked. My two kids have a mother because I had a friend that cared. This is cancer awareness. Tell your friends to do a self-exam or go to the doctor to get checked."
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