On October 19th, 2017 at 1:00 pm on the Campus Green at Alcorn State University, The Senior Class of 2018 and the Delta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted a balloon release in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Many organizations on campus have hosted events throughout October to honor the victims of Breast Cancer. Students wore pink on specific days, many wore ribbons and others participated in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. Dakerria Gaylor, a Freshman Elementary Education major, stated, “I noticed that we have a board in my dorm designated for Breast Cancer Awareness. My friends and I decided to participate in this very important cause by signing it and becoming a visual representation of awareness.”
A great number of students came out to show their support. They were each given a pink balloon to release. A Sophomore English Education major, Na’Keia Stewart, recounts doing the balloon release for a family member by stating, “I am participating in this event for my cousin Lauren who lost her battle to cancer last year.”
Prior to the release, Joshua Evans, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha spoke briefly on the purpose of this event by stating, “We’re here to honor anyone that has ever had Breast Cancer and to do so we will release the balloons on three, 1…2…3.”
As the balloons were released, students exclaimed the names of their family members who have suffered from Breast Cancer. The event was very successful as it got across the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness.