October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and HCXU is doing our part to support breast cancer research and services right here in Cincinnati. On Thursday October 20, we are partnering with Stones Lanes to for a Pink Out! 95% of the money raised Thursday night that is donated goes straight to a breast cancer research program currently ongoing at the UC Barrett Cancer Center. We caught up with Matt from Stones to talk about breast cancer and the Pink Out.
Quick facts about Breast Cancer from breastcancer.org
- 1 in 8 American women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
- An estimated 307,660 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in U.S. women during 2016.Â
- While breast cancer rates are decreasing, it has touched the lives of 2.8 million women in the U.S. – which is 2.8 million too many.
What makes you passionate about this cause?
“I’m passionate for this cause due to watching both grandmothers, an aunt, and two cousins battle and beat breast cancer.  Thank goodness for early detection in all 5 family battles.  The other thing that brings my passion behind this event is we at Stones have helped so many different organizations and foundations raise money and awareness for their respective causes, yet I have not used the facility and resources to do an event that I care about.  I guess you can say this is personal!”
Can you tell us a little more about the UC Barrett Center?
“I have worked with the UC Barrett Cancer Center in the past specifically through The Shemenski Foundation.  After 8 years of collaborating with The Shemenski Foundation I have helped raise over $250,000 to benefit brain cancer research through their annual bowl-a-thon in August.  I believe in total, the foundation has raised over $300,000!  The thing that makes the Barrett Center so attractive is all money raised and donated goes directly towards research.  I think one of the great things they do over there is take the smaller donations and funnel them to one research study so the research project can qualify for matching funds on all levels, state, federal, scientific, etc.   for example the Shemenski’s gift is matched with several other foundations gift of their size and has since turned into a 3 year study that is funded by a 1.3 Million budget!”
What can students look forward to Thursday night?
“This is more than just a fundraiser night, this is a PINK OUT! Please encourage all to wear pink! Â We are bringing in a DJ, gonna have a raffle table set up plus some surprises! Â Â But most importantly the percentage of bowling fees and pizza sales is more than our normal fundraising events which is going directly to Beast Cancer Research at the Barrett Center.”
**95% of donations during the Pink Out will go directly to an ongoing cancer research program at UC Barrett Cancer Center**
How can students help benefit this awesome cause?
“Students are called upon to come bowling and wear pink! Â The more bowlers we have the more money we can donate to the cause! Â We take great pride in assisting all the academic and athletic clubs from campus and now is the time for those clubs to help us raise some money for the fight!”
Editor note: You’re not going to want to miss out on these raffle bags, they are awesome! Tickets to enter the raffle start at $1 or 7 for $5. Â Prizes include Her Campus giveaways, donations from local businesses, and Xavier swag.