By: Mackenzie Byerlee
Features Editor
The “RHA Breast Cancer Awareness Walk” on Oct. 20 brought students, faculty and outside guests together to speak about the importance of early detection, support and community.
Covering My Sisters Founder and CEO Grace Clark spoke about her experiences as a breast cancer survivor.
“When I first got my diagnosis, the only association I had with any cancer was death,” Clark said. “Back then, there was no talk of survivorship. So when I first participated in a support group, I began to see women that were years ahead of me in their survivorship.”
Covering My Sisters is an African American Breast Cancer organization with their main mission being to support those with breast cancer and their families.
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, the university showcased their care for those that have been affected by breast cancer.
Having an outside resource on campus allowed students to fully understand the importance of organizations like this.
The walk itself started in the Academic Quad and continued into the Residence Life Quad. The organizers from the Residence Hall Association as well as those from Covering My Sisters held signs promoting breast cancer awareness.
The Wellbeing Center and Health Services were also in attendance to not only show their support but also to highlight their services when it comes to breast cancer.
When speaking to attendees, Clark wanted to highlight the importance of self breast exams.
“The goal is to save as many lives as possible and this is done by administering self exams,” Clark said. “Don’t neglect that something might be happening.”
Women should be doing self breast exams monthly right after the end of their periods.
Doing this ensures that any changes will be detected and keeps women aware of anything abnormal occurring in their breasts.
Clark shared that lumps are not the only symptom of breast cancer to look out for. Women should also be looking out for rashes, discoloration and abnormal breast pain.
Interdisciplinary studies major Sara Kojeli, a junior, shared that even though her family does not have a history of breast cancer, learning more about the topic was helpful.
“It’s about being safe and taking care of yourself,” Kojeli said. “It could happen to anybody.”
Being able to share her message and spread awareness about breast cancer, specifically in the African American community, is exactly why Clark started Covering My Sisters.
“I wanted to give back and I wanted others to feel the validation and support that I felt, but I also wanted to be able to provide education. African American communities are dying at a higher rate from breast cancer than the caucasian community,” Clark said.
Informing students about aspects of breast cancer that they may not have known previously gave them the opportunity to learn from those with firsthand experiences and see that no one going through this should have to do it alone.
Covering My Sisters is one of many organizations that are available resources for those with breast cancer and their families.
“With support groups, I began to see life and I began to see hope,” Clark said. “It changed the experience of my journey.”
