This past Saturday, Oct. 23, the women of Zeta Tau Alpha set up and hosted a breast cancer education and awareness 5k throughout the campus of West Chester University. Zeta Tau Alpha dedicates this entire month to raising money towards this cause, which is also their philanthropy. Not only did the sisters of this organization put together this 5k, but they also have been doing smaller events all throughout this month, like pie-a-zeta, bake sales and bringing in service dogs for students to pet in the academic quad.
Gina Macintosh, Vice President of Philanthropy, has spent this entire year preparing for October. Macintosh has overseen everything, down to the nitty-gritty of pulling off these fundraisers, and has dedicated most of her fall semester of her senior year to making sure this goes smoothly. She stated how her organization is expecting to make over nine thousand dollars, and that the sign ups to donate are still open. At the 5k this weekend, many people from the community came out to walk and run to show their support. In an interview with Macintosh, she stated how “breast cancer is something that affects so many people in the world. As we know, one in eight women in America will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. This particularly is a cause that means the world to me, and I think so many people came out to support since it hits so close to home for others as well”. To see the community come together, not just students at the University, is something that the sisters loved seeing this weekend.
Of course, there was lots of fun at this event too, the sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha found sponsors to donate to their organization and they created t-shirts to buy with all of the donors on the back. They also put together all sorts of different baskets that were raffled off at the end of the 5k. Some of these baskets included themes like smores, self-care, fitness, movie night, crafts and so many more.
Lastly, Macintosh said, “I was so proud of how hard our whole chapter worked to make this event what it was. I truly saw the unity within our chapter when we came together for this amazing cause. It felt so rewarding to have people come up to me during and after the 5k and say how amazing their experience was!”
Interviewing another member of Zeta Tau Alpha, Mia Flavin, had some remarks on how important breast cancer awareness is to her,
“My philanthropy means more to me than just being involved and raising money for a good cause in the West Chester University community. When I was nine years old, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I did not realize it then, but these diagnoses would begin to shape my life and my values in years to come. I learned from a very young age just how fragile and short life can be, especially for the people who make the world a better place. My mom kicked cancer’s butt and can share her story today with so many people. If cancer took my mom from me at that young age, I would be a shell of the human I am now. She spoke at the Zeta Tau Alpha 5k about what she went through and was able to leave a profound impact on everyone who heard her speak. I’m thankful for my sorority, for our incredible philanthropy, and thankful for the 20 (and hopefully many more) years that I have gotten to experience with my mom.”
Lauren Beachy is a second-year Media and Cultures major with a minor in Communication. LB946715@wcupa.edu