Annual Pink Light Walk Held at ESU

By Laura Jean Null
Staff Writer

October kicked-off with another annual Pink Light Walk held on ESU’s campus.

As usual students, staff, facility and the surrounding community met an hour before the walk outside of the Science and Technology Center on Normal Street. Tables, games, facts and prizes were set up all along the Sci-Tech walkway to help inform the public, as well as create an awareness to this disease that will affect 1 in 8 women, according the Center for Disease Control.

“It was a great atmosphere. Everyone was united to spread awareness on breast cancer. I wasn’t at it last year, but I feel like a whole lot more people came this year, glad I was able to be a part of it,” said senior Francis Abbamonte.

In fact, this year did have more tables set up: including the Colleges Against Cancer club, Breast Friends of Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono Survivors, Prime Time Health, Donations for the Warrior Food Pantry, Kiss Away Cancer, along with ESU’s very own fraternities and sororities.

However, those were just some of the many tables, hundreds of students showed up for the walk, along with over a hundred outside community members, such as survivors and their friends and family walking in support.

“Overall, I think the event went very well – great turnout by both ESU students and the East Stroudsburg community,” said Student Engagement grad assistant Cory Pollina.

The table events were followed by the walk that started on Normal Street and concluded at the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center located at 181 East Brown St., East Stroudsburg.

“I love the experience every year, people get together for a good cause and love to bring awareness to breast cancer. It’s a lot of colleges students and Lehigh valley employees. Also, vendors from the community sharing how they bring awareness to their community. The atmosphere is so happy and approachable, people love to meet other people and bond over an experience, whatever that may be,” said a member of Colleges Against Cancer, Valentina Scalici.

The awareness efforts on ESU’s campus does not end there.

Throughout the fall and spring semesters most campus organizations raise money through donations, bake sales and raffles.

Later, ESU donates the money raised to Relay for Life, which is run by the American Cancer Society.

In the spring semester ESU’s campus host their very own Relay for Life as the final fundraising event of the school year.

Scalici excitingly announced that her and Pamela Batist are co-chairs for Relay for Life this year, and at the end of this semester they will have their first meeting with more information.

The dates for these upcoming meetings are to be determined.

Email Laura at:
lnull@live.esu.edu