By Victor Ghazi | Staff Writer
A pink ribbon of hope tied the AUB community together on October 27th and 28th with the Breast Cancer Awareness event organized by two prominent societies. The Pre-Medical Student Society and Faculty of Health Sciences Student Society collaborated to organize the AUB Goes Pink campaign to raise funds for four Lebanese NGOs concerned with raising awareness about and alleviating the effects of breast cancer: OBGYN Interest Group, Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Fund, and Lebanese Oncology Interest Group.
So who did what?
The event spanned two days. Volunteers from both societies enthusiastically set up stands on every corner of the AUB campus (West Hall, Courtyard, Oxy, OSB, Jafet, etc.) and registered for their shifts to promote the sale. The fundraiser focused on selling pink and white roses, ribbons, pins, stickers, and pastries such as cupcakes, cookies, and strawberries. As a volunteering member at the Oxy stand, I witnessed firsthand the drive of AUB students to purchase roses, pins and help us secure the needed funds for the concerned NGOs.
How was it received?
In a subsequent interview, cabinet members of the PSS and FHSSS described the event as, ”a huge success” and “possibly the largest fundraiser in AUB history.” They were more than satisfied with the monetary and social outcomes of the event because the fundraiser amassed more funds than expected. In fact, the roses were sold out very early on the first day. Second, the cabinets conveyed their gratitude to all the students who took it upon themselves to volunteer at the stands from early morning to late afternoon. Moreover, many passers-by who took the breast cancer awareness mission to heart volunteered despite not being members of either student society by handling stands and transporting items across different sale points of the AUB campus.
Indeed, the AUB community was tied by a pink ribbon these two days in hopes of alleviating the burden of the second most deadly form of cancer in women. The final knot was tied through a special webinar with hematologist-oncologist Dr. Nour Moukalled who discussed breast cancer awareness screening. She concluded the webinar on a heartwarming and emotional personal experience that she lived with her parents’ cancer battle and its impact on her career.