Zeta Tau Alpha sorority illuminated the hearts of attendees along with various spots on Auburn's campus Thursday, Oct. 4 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
"We came to this event to give back to the community and show that we're trying to give back to a great cause," said Lindsay Gerber, ZTA member and senior in communications.
Cater Hall, Samford Hall and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art were lit pink in support of the cause.
"I think it's really important to find answers because finding cures to breast cancer can help lead to finding cures for other cancers," said Courtney Gray, ZTA member and senior in marketing.
"It not only helps women who've suffered from breast cancer, but every other person who's suffered from cancer."
Karla Simmons, breast cancer survivor and assistant professor for the college of human sciences, was the first to share her story.
"Every year I come back because I want to tell the same story," Simmons said.
In 2006, Simmons was diagnosed with breast cancer. She found her first lump through a self-exam.
"I am absolutely thrilled that someone will hear me and do the self-exam and find something, and they will be cured of cancer," Simmons said.
Simmons stressed the importance of self-exams.
"I believe that knowing your body and self-exams saved my life," Simmons said. "Every month there is another girl that is being affected by breast cancer with someone in his or her life."
Gerber said breast cancer has affected her through a good friend.
"My best friend's mom, when I was growing up, had breast cancer, and it was really hard for her, so we took her in," Gerber said. "Her mother survived, but it was still really hard for everyone."
Linda Maxwell-Evans, breast cancer survivor and director of employee relations at Auburn, received her news shortly after the passing of her father from lung cancer in 2008.
Cancer runs in Maxwell-Evans' family.
"I was upset, but I wasn't shocked," Maxwell- Evans said.
Maxwell-Evans' advice to women struggling through cancer treatment is simple and borrowed from a famous American rapper.
"I often thought of the words of Tupac Shakur, 'I know it seems hard sometimes, but remember one thing. Through every dark night, there is a bright day after that,'" Maxwell-Evans said. "So no matter how hard it gets, stick your chest out and deal with it. And that is what I decided to do."
Pat Abrams, breast cancer survivor and mother of a current ZTA member, did not realize the philanthropy work she was doing through her daughter would so greatly impact her life.
"The color pink took on a whole new meaning," Abrams said. "My husband wore his pink shirt to each of my six rounds of chemotherapy."
Advice given throughout the night was that self-examinations are the most important thing a woman can do.
"I encourage you to do your shower-check and inform your doctor if anything looks different or something doesn't feel right," Abrams said.
Simmons offered her time to talk with anyone struggling with breast cancer affecting a family or friend.
"I'm in Spidle -- room 363," Simmons said. "You can come and cry or be mad, or whatever. I've been through that, and I certainly want to be there for you."
ZTA sorority also participates in other fundraising events throughout the year, such as Opelika Walk for the Cure and Race for the Cure in Birmingham. In the spring, ZTA will hold its annual philanthropy event, called Big Man on Campus.
"Big Man on Campus is our biggest fundraiser of the year," Gray said.
The sorority was able to raise $41,000 last year, Gray said.
"We raise the most amount of money in Alabama," Gerber said. "And we beat Alabama every year."
Simmons said after surviving cancer two times, she is positive of her purpose in life.
"As long as I am still breathing and still on this earth, I will do whatever it takes to raise money, so that not only breast cancer, but cancer in general, can take a leap and be gone forever," Simmons said.
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