MU raises money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is the 25th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

By Trevor Eischen

Published Oct. 30, 2009

Things got a little pinker this month as Columbia community members and students rallied together to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It is the 25th anniversary of the month, according to the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Web site.

Many groups organized and collaborated to help bring awareness to the community in addition to raising funds for breast cancer research and support groups.

The MU chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority promotes breast cancer awareness year-round with an array of events.

Zeta Tau Alpha utilizes its large parking lot during home games to raise money to donate to breast cancer organizations. The sorority raises more than $1,000 per game, Zeta Tau Alpha member Rachel Schallom said.

On Nov. 12, the sorority will hold its annual Rockin' for the Ribbon concert, in which bands come together to play at The Blue Note to raise money for breast cancer organizations. Money from the event will go toward organizations, including the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation. The week of the concert is also Zeta Tau Alpha's philanthropy week completely devoted to breast cancer awareness fundraising.

Schallom said it's easy for a house of 200 women to support the cause.

"Breast cancer is something that all of the women in our sorority are really passionate about because it is a cause that affects many lives," Schallom said. "We've had a couple of girls who have been quickly affected."

Earlier in the month, Schallom and her sorority sisters wore pink shirts and sold pink lemonade. In one day, they raised $93 solely on lemonade sales and donations.

Last year, the sorority raised more than $15,000 for breast cancer awareness. This year, the sorority hopes to raise at least $18,000.

Other groups raise funds through artistic expressions rather than concerts and lemonade.

The Ellis Fischel Cancer Center hosted several of those events.

Its Decorate-a-Bra fundraiser auctioned 133 bras artistically designed by community members and students.

The Columbia Art League on Ninth Street exhibited works for the "Breasts of Mid-Missouri 2009" silent auction to benefit the Vincent P. Gurucharri Foundation. The auction allowed local artists to make papier-mâché casts of breasts, which were then stylized and fashioned to convey the particular artist's creative message.

In addition to the auction, patrons at the gallery could vote for their favorite sculpture, as well as donate money for the raffle.

Rock Bridge High School senior Andrian Kelly's brown-feathered breastplate conveyed breast cancer patients' yearning for liberation.

"She just wants to fly up and fly away from the barriers that have held her down," Kelly said in an artist's statement.

The Vincent P. Gurucharri Foundation was founded after the death of Vincent Gurucharri in 2003. Gurucharri was a surgeon in Boone County who died from a rare cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Vincent P. Gurucharri Foundation board member Trish Carlton said she knew Gurucharri and wanted to help those who require financial and emotional support.

"Dr. Gurucharri was a very good doctor for me, and I've known the family for a very long time," Carlton said.

Friends and patients organized the group to continue the charitable work Gurucharri pursued during his life.

Breast cancer has been an ever-present issue in Carlton's life, affecting many members in her family.

Carlton said both her mother, grandmother, close friend and she have had breast cancer and having a good support system is an important part of overcoming the disease.

As Carlton and the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center promoted the month through art, some MU students promoted breast cancer awareness through modeling.

The national organization Campus Girls USA creates calendars showcasing campus models from different schools. The models are divided by school conferences, and MU had several women model in the Big 12 Conference calendar.

Senior Megan Holly applied for a calendar slot and got a modeling opportunity. She said breast cancer awareness isn't just a factor in older women's lives.

"Being a young woman, you're obviously aware of the things that are threatening your life," Holly said.

Holly experienced tribulation when her close childhood friend's mother was diagnosed with the disease. The mother had babysat Holly when she was younger, and both Holly's family and her friend's family were very close. Her friend's mother died last summer.

Holly said she saw the calendar as a chance to give back to those who suffer firsthand from the disease.

"Their family was so giving through the whole experience," Holly said. "I feel like that happens to a lot of women when they get breast cancer. It's not about them. They just want to enjoy the time that they have left and try and be optimistic about everything."

Campus Girls USA covered Holly's living and traveling expenses on the stipulation she would sell 100 calendars. She thought her buyer demographic would consist mostly of men.

"You'd be surprised at who will buy the calendars," Holly said. "You'd think college guys would be all over it."

Those who have bought Holly's calendars tended to be older women and their friends and relatives who have experienced breast cancer in some form.

Of the calendars sold, 100 percent of profits go directly to breast cancer foundations. This year, the calendar chose to donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Although some expressed their support via art and modeling, others showed support through what they wore.

Wednesday was Pink Hijab Day, during which some women wore pink hijabs, or the traditional head coverings Muslim women wear. The pink fashion is part of an international event started by MU senior Hend El-Buri, the creator of Pink Hijab Day.

El-Buri created the idea when she and some of her Muslim friends went on a field trip to a place where the Muslim population was sparse. She and her friends wanted to promote their religion in a friendly manner and decided they would wear pink hijabs to get people asking questions.

"The next year, I thought it would be really fun to do it again," El-Buri said. "So I put it on Facebook and this huge number of people joined. I was really surprised. There were thousands of people who would do it."

The support from the social networking site persuaded El-Buri to further promote Pink Hijab Day. Due to the enormous response to her idea, El-Buri said she thought connecting a cause to the yearly event would attract more participants and promote the philanthropic pursuits of the Muslim community.

El-Buri said she hopes her event brings awareness and support to people for both breast cancer and Muslim women.

"Instead of staring and wondering why we're covered, we'd much rather that they just ask," El-Buri said. "We really want to tell you."