Bras Across Campus is a success at Central Penn

More than three dozen bras collected, information on self exams offered

Story and Photos

By Jamie Harmon

Knightly News Reporter

jamie.harmom@mymail.centralpenn.edu

The Colleges Against Cancer Club and its adviser, Kristin Fike, helped celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting Bras Across Campus last Thursday afternoon to support the Feel Your Boobies campaign with hopes of educating young women on the importance of breast self-exams.

Students, faculty and staff gathered along Henszey’s Bridge in Summerdale to learn more about the importance of breast cancer awareness, and breast exams young women can do themselves.

Jenna Lawson relates her experience.

Jenna Lawson, 42, of Harrisburg,  a breast-cancer survivor, spoke regarding the need for weekly self-checkups for women under the age of 40, and her involvement with the Feel Your Boobies Foundation during her own breast-cancer journey.

She also mentioned support from the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of South Central PA and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The Feel Your Boobies Foundation’s goal is to educate young women on the importance of breast self-exams. The foundation helps women know how to do the exams, when to do the exams and what to look for.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will develop breast cancer.

“Because (some) women are too young to get screenings, they really need to have that self-awareness on their own to be doing self breast exams,” Fike, the club adviser, said.

Many students stopped to show support and spread awareness of the importance of the prevention of breast cancer.

Central Penn students and employees collected over 40 bras for the event. The bras were hung on the bridge and will be given to a local shelter for women who need them.

Central Penn’s baseball team led in helping to hang the donated bras along Henszey’s Bridge.

The baseball team and others help hang bras on the bridge. Kristin Fike, the Colleges Against Cancer club advisor, center right, admires their work.

Instructions on how to exam your own breasts can be found on breastcancer.org and at the Feel Your Boobies Foundation page.


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Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.