Nu Zeta Phi Hosts Charity Walk-A-Thon

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Olivia Zucker, Copy Editor

The sisters of Nu Zeta Phi at Pace University hosted their 11th annual Small Steps Towards a Big Cure Walk-a-thon to raise money and awareness for breast cancer last Saturday.  Cosponsored by Nu Zeta Phi and the University Pan-Hellenic Council, the event featured a three-mile walk which lead participants from Pace’s Pleasantville campus to the Briarcliff one.

Pace students, including several fraternity brothers, showed their support by sporting pink shirts and accessories. Meaghan Biggs, a Pace sophomore who has had a close experience with breast cancer sported a pink shirt and bracelets.

“The mother of my childhood best friend, Katie Lamarre, is a breast cancer survivor.  Growing up, she was basically my second mother.  I probably spent as much time with her as my own mom,” Biggs said.

Unfortunately, Biggs’ experience is one story among many.  Approximately one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer at least once in their life, according to the American Cancer Society.

“In the beginning, we didn’t know if she was going to get worse,” Biggs said.  “There was always that worry that [the cancer] would spread.”

Biggs’ experience with Lamarre was her first exposure to any type of cancer or any terminal illness in someone she was close to.  Because of this, she says, Lamarre’s sickness was a serious trauma for Biggs.

“Seeing how sick she looked was absolutely devastating,” Biggs said.  “She did chemo, and I would see her losing her hair and losing weight, and it was the first time I’d really experienced seeing that.”

Biggs’ experience is a relatively lucky one, however, for Lamarre has been cancer-free for two years.

“She’s essentially cured right now.  She looks just like she did before she got sick,” Biggs said.

Although Lamarre is in remission, sadly Lamarre’s mother, Nancy Graham, contracted breast cancer last year.  Graham’s cancer has spread to her bones, which unfortunately is incurable, but can be treatable, according to the American Cancer Society.  Genetics can also be a risk factor in contracting breast cancer, they say.

“It makes me worry so much for my friend because breast cancer is genetic,” Biggs said.  “Molly [Lamarre’s] chances of getting breast cancer are so much higher because both her mom and her grandmother have had it.”

It is because of this risk that Biggs, among many others, have organized to raise funds and awareness about breast cancer.

“I think it’s definitely so important to educate people about the risks and what they can do to prevent breast cancer,” Biggs said.  “We’re all at risk—our moms, grandmas, sisters, our friends, everyone.  It’s just important to know how you can help yourself and other people.”