Glow Run for boobies

Approximately 300 people participated in this year’s Glow Run for Boobies. The race, which started and finished in the campus mall, has raised about $2,500 over the past two years for breast cancer research.

The second annual Glow Run for Boobies took place in the Campus Mall Oct. 24. The Health Science Club at the College at Brockport organized the event. Around 300 people participated in the run, which generated approximately $2,500 over the past two years.

“Breast cancer has impacted many people,” said senior John Buchser, who helped organize the Glow Run this year. “It is very popular and almost becoming a trend but we wanted everyone to know that we were hosting the event to raise funds for American Cancer Society (ACS), which is why 100 percent of the T-shirt profits and 100 percent of the registration money was donated.”

Registration fees were $3 and T-shirts were $10. The shirts were creatively designed to glow in the dark so runners would stand out at night during the race.

Many runners showed off their support of breast cancer by dressing up in pink attire. There were even a number of people who went so far as to spray paint their skin pink to show their spirit and support for breast cancer victims. Prizes were given out to first place finishers as well as to most spirited participants and to the biggest donor.

Overall, Buchser said he believes the event was a huge success.

“We worked really hard since the beginning of the semester to create a special night for our peers, faculty members and residents in Brockport,” said Buchser. “At the event the participants were awesome, just like last year, dressing up in shiny pink dresses and cheering each other on. There was positive energy.”

As for whether or not there will be another Glow Run for Boobies next year, Buchser said he hopes it does continue, as it has great potential to raise not only donations for the American Cancer Society, but also awareness about breast cancer among the Brockport community.

The Health Science club would also like to thank the sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible.

“We could not have done it without Circle K, Cancer Doesn’t Fly With Eagles and Colleges Against Cancer volunteering at the event,” said Buchser. “Also, a huge thanks to Z’s Custom Tees, Jimmy Z’s, Main Street Pizza, Mozzeroni’s, Mark’s Pizza, Burrito Fresco, 58 Main, Barber’s Bar and Grill, Jill’s Antiques and Collectables, Liftbridge Book Shop, and Barnes & Noble, who all donated prizes for the event.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast Cancer can have a prevalent effect on people’s lives. A staggering 39,510 women will die from cancer this year alone.

According to cancer.org about 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2012. In many cases, this means cancerous cells break through normal breast tissue barriers and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph nodes.

Around 63,300 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) cases will be diagnosed in women this year. This means cancerous cells remain in a particular location of the breast without spreading to surrounding tissue, lobules or ducts. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, behind lung cancer. Rates increased for more than two decades before finally beginning to decline in 2000. Between 2002 and 2003, rates dropped 7 percent, which is thought to have been caused by implementing hormone regimens in women after menopause.

There are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. Death rates resulting from breast cancer have been decreasing since 1990, due to increased awareness and earlier detection, in addition to improved treatment.

To learn more about the fight against breast cancer visit cancer.org

eburk4@brockport.edu