Tennessee Tech launches its third annual Tech Goes Pink initiative this week to provide breast cancer awareness and health education.
Director of Intercultural Affairs and Director of First-Generation Student Success Charria Campbell said the university partners with local medical providers and community organizations to connect participants with prevention and recovery resources.
“I think our students just knowing early on how they can be impacted by this disease,” Campbell said, “And knowing what to do and where to reach out for resources and support is very important.”
Campbell said the campaign begins Saturday with a Pink Out football game at Tucker Stadium. Local breast cancer survivors will lead the football team during the Golden Eagle Walk at 11am before the game begins at 1:30pm.
“I think it’s just a great way for the survivors to know that they’re not forgotten, that they’re not in the fight alone, and because they’re able to bring their family and friends it just shows that we have a community of support here and it’s just not about that person, but everybody who’s impacted,” Campbell said.
The initiative continues Thursday, October 22, with an exhibition on the main quad featuring Tennessee Tech Health Services and Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Information will also be available about the Cookeville Family YMCA’s breast cancer recovery program.
A Survivor and Memorial Walk will take place at 5:30pm on the quad. Participants can create luminaries honoring survivors or remembering those who died from the disease.
“Sometimes I really see more of, instead of the sadness, is more of the celebration of life when people are really excited about celebrating life and celebrating those who have survived, but also celebrating the life of those who we’ve lost because they think about the joyous moments and things like that and not always the piece that may have been a struggle while they were going through, but they were able to come through or that now they are resting in peace if we have those that we’ve lost,” Campbell said.
Students and visitors can also sign a public banner with messages of encouragement. Campbell said Tech Goes Pink is part of a broader effort to address aspects of student well-being beyond the classroom.
“It’s not just the academic pieces that we’re focusing on in the work that we do with our students, but also from a social aspect and the health and wellness, how are they staying healthy and are they taking care of themselves, but also knowing that there’s family and the circles that they’re in that things like breast cancer and other health disparities can impact our students personally, but also like I said, throughout their networks,” Campbell said.