Released September 29, 2005

Hattiesburg– Pink will be seen across campus in October as The University of Southern Mississippi shows support for all the fighters and survivors of breast cancer.

Throughout October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, many events will make their way to the campus of Southern Miss. An information table will be set up every day at Shoemaker Square, dispensing information on breast cancer and accepting donations. On Oct. 4, the recreational sports graduate assistants will be teaching “Bow Making 101.” The class is at the Payne Center and is open to the public. In support of National Mammography Day on Oct. 21, the Southern Miss Clinic will be offering free breast exams during the week of Oct. 17-21.

Mary Beth Walker, assistant director of student activities and head of the Paint Southern Miss Pink Committee, is coordinating the event. “This is the fourth year, and I am empowered and excited by the women on this committee. Each year, the events for breast cancer awareness at Southern Miss grow, and it is awesome to be a part of it,” Walker said.

Another event on campus is the “Most Pink” contest. On Oct. 27, each floor in each Southern Miss building as well as the sororities will have a chance to decorate their area with ribbons, balloons, paints or anything pink to show support for the survivors of breast cancer in the Southern Miss community. They will be judged on who is “most pink.” The judges of this contest are known as “The Southern Survivors.”

The first “Pink Walk” will be held on Oct. 27 at 5 pm. The walk will go through campus beginning and ending at the Lucas Administration Building. Anyone who wants to walk in memory or honor of someone who has been affected by breast cancer may register at the Breast Cancer Awareness table in Shoemaker Square Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $5.

On Oct. 27, a special ceremony will be held at Shoemaker Square honoring anyone who has been affected by breast cancer. Miriam Cabana, coordinator of the Learning Center for the School of Nursing and a survivor of breast cancer herself, will be narrating the ceremony.

“I feel extremely blessed and grateful for God's Grace and healing and for the many, many friends who cared and supported me,” Cabana said. “I even had survivors who were strangers to call me and offer support. I think I am, therefore, obligated to increase awareness and education in memory of those who have lost the battle, in honor of fellow survivors, and to all others who may be affected by breast cancer.”

Rev. Tommy Conway of St. Thomas Catholic Church and Rev. Jeff Clark of First Baptist Church have been asked to pray at the ceremony, and a reception will be held at the R.C. Cook University Union lobby after the ceremony.

Another survivor attending the ceremony is Jewel Tucker, administrative secretary for the president’s office. “I am a firm believer that God does not give cancer to everyone, because everyone could not handle it,” Tucker said. “He chose special people to share in this challenge. I am very special because I am a longtime survivor by God's grace. The friendships, the team work and the sharing of a common entity - cancer - pulled together a cadre of Southern Miss people and friends who support ‘Paint Southern Miss Pink.’”

“The common bond here is that we all know of someone – a friend or a family member - who succumbed to or survived in spite of the challenge,” Tucker continued. “I am better than blessed. I survived cancer and I survived Katrina.”

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