Rec center to kick off annual breast cancer fundraiser

Sofia Galiano/ BBC Managing Editor

A University team devoted to finding a cure and raising awareness for breast cancer will kick off their annual fundraiser this month.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Biscayne Bay Campus Recreation Center’s FIU BBC Gone Pink team will host their fifth annual Breast Cancer Kick-off, to mark the start of a month-long fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The BBC Rec Center partnered with other University departments including the Wellness Center, the Center for Leadership and Service, Campus Life and the Women’s Center on their mission to cure breast cancer.

Starting at 10 a.m., students can purchase “FIU BBC Gone Pink” t-shirts for a minimum of $15, which will automatically register them in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk at Marlins Park on Oct. 11.

Baked goods, pizza and $1 raffle tickets to win a lunch date with Eric Arneson, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, will also be sold at the event, with all proceeds going toward the ACS.

Warren Shaw, assistant director of the BBC Rec Center, said the most gratifying part of the fundraiser is witnessing students’ willingness to give to such a meaningful cause.

He said there have been cases where a student will purchase a shirt with a $20 bill and say, “Keep the change.”

Although t-shirts, food and raffle tickets will be sold at the event, the team will be accepting donations during regular business hours in the Rec Center and their partners’ offices until the day before the walk on Oct. 10.

The FIU BBC Gone Pink team raised nearly $1,500 last year, making that the most they have raised since starting in 2010.

“Last year was unique,” said Shaw. “We had a lot of time to raise money.”

This was in part due to a scheduling conflict with Marlins Park, according to Shaw, which pushed the walk from Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October to early November.

Consequently, this gave the team more opportunities to collect donations.

The Bras for a Cause: Decorate A Bra, a bra-decorating contest to help raise breast cancer awareness, will not be taking place at this year’s kick-off due to a shortage of staff.

However, freebies, services and preventative health information will be given out by the departments participating in the kick-off and walk.

Donna Walcott, assistant director of the BBC Wellness Center, said the center is proud to partake in these events for a third year since breast cancer is an issue affecting many peoples’ lives.

“A lot of our family and friends have been, or are, survivors of breast cancer,” said Walcott.

She said a nurse will be at the kick-off with a model of a breast to demonstrate the proper way to perform a breast exam, for both men and women.

Meanwhile, a masseuse will be giving free 10-minute massages at the event, showcasing one of the many services offered at the Wellness Center.

Walcott also said pink goodie bags with breast self-exam shower cards, aromatherapy oils and razors will be handed out, as will blue goodie bags for guys.

-sofia.galiano@fiusm.com