The WKU Student Government Association Pink Walk brought the WKU and local community together Thursday night to honor those affected by breast cancer and raise awareness about the disease during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The SGA Pink Walk, created and hosted by SGA Vice President Donte Reed, aimed to spread awareness about breast cancer and raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The walk was presented in collaboration with SGA, WKU Panhellenic, WKU Interfraternity Council and the WKU National Pan-Hellenic Council.
“Knowing it exists is not enough” was Reed’s motto for this event.
“You never know who it’s impacted here on the Hill,” Reed said. “We’re going to try to do as much as we can to spread the word about early treatments and resources that are available.”
Students gathered at the Big Red Statue in the Downing Student Union to walk across Centennial Mall and to the South Lawn. There, SGA provided everyone in attendance with burgers, snacks and drinks.
“It’s just such a great event,” said Daren Denney, husband to breast cancer survivor Michelle Denney. “It’s a good student turnout here tonight and it’s just such a great opportunity for people to get information.”
Speakers Michelle Denney, Robbin Taylor and Tate Sine spoke on their experiences with breast cancer and how it has impacted their lives. Denney and Taylor are breast cancer survivors, and Sine’s mother battled breast cancer.
“Attitude is everything,” Michelle Denney said. “No matter if you’re diagnosed with a medical disease, if you’re going to take a test or you have to speak and you’re scared to death; attitude is everything.”
Tonya Sine, mother of Tate Sine, spoke at last year’s Pink Walk after being diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021. This year, her son shared her story to attendants.
“To be here and witness this is very heartwarming,” Tonya Sine said.
Although breast cancer is predominantly found in women, there was much talk about how men are still susceptible. 1 in 8 women and 1 in 726 men will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer at some point in their lives according to the American Cancer Society.
In addition to the walk and guest speakers, there was also a raffle at the event for the chance to win various prizes. It cost $6 to enter, which will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Additional photos from the SGA Pink Walk can be found here and a video can be found here.
News Reporter Bradlee Reed-Whalen can be reached at [email protected].
