Pink Light Walk

A crab apple tree from the original Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
A crab apple tree from the original Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
A crab apple tree from the original Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center.
Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

BY JAMIE REESE

SC News Editor

On Thursday, October 3, the thirteenth annual Pink Light Walk took place at East Stroudsburg University.

The purpose of the Pink Light Walk was to educate students and the community about breast cancer, and to support anyone who has had the disease or who has been impacted by it.

According to ESU Insider, the walk was sponsored by ESU’s Department of Health Services, ESU’s Student Activity Association, the Pocono Medical Center, Hughes Cancer Center, the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging, and the Monroe Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

The event started at 5:30 PM in the Keystone Room, where participants received free t-shirts.

“We had six hundred shirts. We don’t have any left,” said Kevin Skilton, Executive Board Member of Inter-Fraternal Council.

After they got their free shirts, participants went further inside the Keystone building to find a variety of tables for a variety of causes related to breast cancer.

One of these groups, Breast Friends of Pennsylvania, works to promote emotional and mental stability in women affected by the disease.

“Our mission is to help women through the trauma of cancer one friend at a time,” said Kelli Mercurio, co-director of Breast Friends.

“We do group and one on one support. We do workshops for cancer patients and family. We try to connect women together in the community for support,” said Mercurio.

Carole Bowyer advocated the Hope for Strength Breast Cancer Fund.

“The fund helps with basic living expenses,” said Bowyer.

Other groups present were Stroudsburg’s Kitchen Chemistry, Lindsay’s Quilted Ornaments, the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania, ESU Chapter of Colleges against Cancer, and more.

After commencement, participants gathered outside and walked together to the Pocono Medical Center’s Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center.

Once there, tickets were handed out for raffle prizes like teddy bears, throws, shirts, hats, and more. Refreshments were provided, and everyone listened as various speakers presented.

Later into the night a crab apple tree from the original Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center was unveiled with over ten thousand pink lights wrapped around it.

This tree, now situated in the Healing Garden in front of the center, lived after being moved, and is considered by many to be a symbol for hope to cancer patients.

The tree will remain lit throughout the month of October, so anyone interested in seeing the tree can visit it.

Anyone who missed the Pink Light Walk can still get involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On Saturday, October 12, Making Strides against Breast Cancer of Pocono Mountains will host a 5k run at East Stroudsburg University’s Eiler Martin Stadium.

Registration for this event starts at 8:30 AM.

After this event, there are still other opportunities to get involved on campus, such as ESU Colleges against Cancer’s Relay for Life during Spring Semester.

Relay for Life is an event during which teams walk a track, set up various tables and activities, and spend an entire night reflecting on cancer and its effects.

Last year fourteen teams raised around $12,000 that went to support the American Cancer Society.

This year’s Relay for Life is scheduled for April 4 and April 5, and registration is open now.

Email Jamie at:

Jreese6@live.esu.edu