In the height of breast cancer awareness month, the Auburn family will be coming together Saturday, Oct. 20 on the AU Student Center green space from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for the All In, All Pink breast cancer awareness event.
The programs that are involved include University Outreach, the Office of Public Service and the Kappa Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
This is the second year the event has been up and running, and it was organized to unite, honor and raise awareness.
Breast cancer survivor Melanie Knause will speak at the event, along with first-year attendee August Haywood.
Haywood said she will be speaking from an awareness standpoint.
She explained she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer this summer when she found a lump in her breast in early May.
"After I found the lump in early May, I kept a close eye on it, and by the end of May the lump was bigger," Haywood said.
Haywood took precautions and went to the doctor.
"After evaluations, I got an ultrasound and the lump was removed. We did a biopsy on the lump and found cancer," Haywood said.
Haywood said by July 2012, she had a mastectomy, during which both breasts were removed.
"I started chemotherapy in August and did it every Friday," Haywood said.
She stressed that it's important for women to investigate and detect for breast cancer earlier, rather than later.
She said women should start looking around 20-30 years old rather than the typical 30-40 years old.
Haywood made it clear she wanted women "not too far removed from college" to be more aware of their bodies to avoid getting ill at any cost.
In regard to the cancer, the high school English teacher said, "I've been pretty good. I let my students know that some days I may not be 100 percent, and they are wonderful. So far, I've been on a regular schedule."
Caralise Hunt, School of Nursing student, said she hopes to make this event as successful as last year's.
"I did the event last year and was able to see first-hand effects of building awareness," she said.
Hunt has been a nurse for several years and has seen the issues women face.
"We will have a table set up where the nursing students will be," Hunt said.
She said they will have fliers and give out information on breast cancer and care.
"We will have a model breast out so people can demonstrate on how to test themselves," Hunt said. "Hopefully, we'll have privacy curtains."
Hunt said by being involved with this event, she expects to "provide women with information that they weren't aware of."
For example, Hunt said most women aren't aware of the free mammogram services the Nursing School provides.
"Auburn University Outreach is pleased to be working with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and several community partners on raising awareness and celebrating life, as it relates to this very important health issue," said Royrickers Cook, assistant vice president for University Outreach.
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