Survivors in Pink: roommates share experiences and efforts in local Breast Cancer awareness event

Leslie Spamer knew it was coming. Her mother had been to the doctor four times in one week and that wasn’t normal. It has been two years since then—since her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, but more importantly almost two years that she’s been in remission.

Spamer, a junior marketing major, had the unwavering support of her friend and now roommate Sophie Singer during that time. In 2009, Spamer was able to show her support for Singer because her mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I was there for Sophie during that time because I knew what she was going through,” Spamer said.

Brittany Henderson | gcsunade.com

Junior mass communication major Sophie Singer dedicates her cause to her mother, Arlyn and her struggle with breast cancer. She started a Survivors in Pink event to raise awareness in the local area. “This is such a great event and it is going to be an amazing and inspiring night.” said Kendall Stiles of the GIVE center.

Singer is a junior mass communication major and she is using her major and her experience with her mother to put together several breast cancer awareness events. She also has the help of her friend Spamer who is her partner in the whole endeavor.

They had a Breast Cancer Bingo fundraiser on Oct. 28 where ticket buyers had a chance to win money and whatever they won would be matched by the American Legion to go to breast cancer awareness. They are also selling links on a “in memory of” chain.

“The donations will be helping out with the Survivors in Pink event we are planning, but the rest of the money we don’t use will be going towards “Faith, Love,and Hope” which is a cancer survivor group in the local area,” said Singer.

The Survivors in Pink event is the main thing that the girls are planning with the help of Kendall Stiles and others at The GIVE Center.

“This is such a great event and it is going to be an amazing and inspiring night,” Stiles said.

The main reason why they planned this event was to reach out to the community of survivors here in Baldwin County.

“Our mothers became such good friends because of their similar experiences and we want to give other women a chance to share their stories as well,” Spamer said.

The event on Nov. 4 was a dessert and coffee get together with a speaker from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The chains from the fundraiser were to be hung up at the event. The girls sent out over 100 invites to survivors in the area in hope that the event would be a success.

“My mom went to a similar event and had an amazing time. I want other women to have the same experience,” Spamer said.

Posted by Danielle Paluga on Nov 5 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.