Durham College campus community tickled pink

Kim MacPherson from the School of Career Development & Continuing Education runs a lemonade stand during the sixth annual Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Day on March 10. MacPherson is also a breast cancer survivor.

On Wednesday, March 10, the campus community was tickled pink as it hosted the sixth annual Power of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Day on campus.

The event, held each March, offered many fun events and activities to raise money for the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Gala of Hope’s Heather Griffith Breast Assessment Centre at Lakeridge Health Oshawa.

Participants received a passport that was stamped each time they made a monetary contribution at a participating activity and then received one ballot per stamp, giving them a chance to win prizes including gift baskets, athletic wear and college-branded gear.

Booths were sent up in Recognition Square and Vendor’s Alley in the Gordon Willey building and in the Founding Deans’ Atrium of the UOIT Science building to host several fundraising initiatives including bake sales, cake walks, games, a chance to buy raffle tickets and more.

A memory wall for participants to write messages or memories about individuals with breast cancer or breast cancer survivors was available as well as information booths with breast cancer literature.

Gala of Hope, the volunteer organization that funds the Heather Griffith Breast Assessment Centre at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, also sold T-shirts and lanyards to support breast cancer awareness with more and more students, faculty and staff wearing the clothing around campus as the day went on.

“I think this is a wonderful day and I am very impressed by the involvement of the staff and students here at Durham College,” said Betty Lea, chief executive officer and events and fundraising co-ordinator of the Gala of Hope. “It is really great to see so much support for such a great cause.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women with an estimated 22,700 women diagnosed in 2009. In addition, an estimated 180 men in Canada were also diagnosed. For more information on how you can help find a cure for breast cancer, please visit www.cbcf.org.