To raise breast cancer education and awareness, the sisters of the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority sold flowers for an event they called “Flowers for Fighters” on Feb. 13 in the breezeway between Founder’s Hall and Cauthen Educational Media Center.
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and understanding of breast cancer, underlying its importance. ZTA emphasized how important it is to know about breast cancer as it affects a lot of people. Knowing about it helps catch it early, which means better chances of treatment working. Being aware also means making healthy choices and getting regular check-ups.
“This is going to benefit anyone who has been affected by breast cancer or has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Cary Stokes, sophomore business marketing major and philanthropy chair of the FMU ZTA chapter, said.
By donating or participating in fundraising events such as this, students are given an opportunity to donate to important causes such as breast cancer awareness. While every Greek Life organization has a particular philanthropy they raise money for, such as Tau Kappa Epsilon donating to St. Jude and Kappa Delta donating to Prevent Child Abuse America, ZTA’s is breast cancer awareness.
The Flowers for Fighters event raised money to do important things such as paying for treatments, providing emotional support for those affected by breast cancer and spreading awareness about breast health.
The money raised from the flowers sold achieved this by helping to get essential medical tests, providing counseling and offering assistance such as transportation to treatment centers and giving wigs to those losing their hair due to treatment.
These events also bring communities together, giving support to survivors, caregivers and those still fighting breast cancer. Plus, they help fight against the fear and shame that can come with the disease.
Charity events like these for breast cancer also contribute to funding research. This research is important for discovering new treatments, improving early detection methods and ultimately finding a cure for the disease.
The money raised from these events even helps scientists conduct studies, clinical trials and experiments aimed at better understanding breast cancer and finding more effective ways to treat it.
Additionally, financial assistance provided through contributions can help alleviate the burden of medical expenses for patients undergoing treatment, ensuring that they receive the care they need without facing overwhelming financial strain.
Flowers for Fighters serves as a source of hope and inspiration for those affected by the disease, showing them that they are not alone in their journey and that there is a community rallying behind them.
Originally, the event was scheduled for Feb. 12, but the event was postponed until the next day due to the heavy rain on the original date.
The ZTA sorority members wanted to add that they will be hosting their annual 5k breast cancer run on April 6th which also into their foundation and will also help contribute to this cause.