On Tuesday, Oct. 14, two OUWB student organizations joined forces to raise money for Corewell Health’s Sharing & Caring Breast Cancer Education and Support program.
The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) and the Oncology Interest Group (OncIG) have been hosting the Light the Path fundraiser since 2022. The initiative provides an opportunity for individuals to donate $6 in exchange for honoring a loved one battling breast cancer with personalized luminaria.
From 5 - 7 p.m., paper bags were anchored with rocks and lit up from inside, with about 100 of them shining brightly against the evening sky. Names of family members, messages of hope, and reminders of having the courage to fight against cancer were displayed.
“We hold Light the Path in front of Elliott Tower because it’s a main hub of campus and we want to show our unity and support by lighting up its path,” said Christine Jang, M2, vice president, OncIG. “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s a time to honor the millions of lives that have been affected by breast cancer and show support and solidarity.”
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the leading form of cancer diagnosed in women in the U.S. However, the five-year relative survival rate has increased significantly over time, thanks to improvements in radiation and chemotherapy treatments in addition to earlier detection.
President Rachel Barjuca, M2, continues to spread the word on AMWA’s mission of encouragement, advocating for women supporting other women.
“AMWA is not just about empowering women to pursue a career in medicine, but we also want to advocate for and support women from all over the country and even the world to follow their passions and dreams,” said Barjuca. “We strive to recognize leading women in various medical fields and through AMWA, become leaders and advocates ourselves.”
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| From 5 - 7 p.m., paper bags were anchored with rocks and lit up from inside, with about 100 of them shining brightly against the evening sky. |
Jang explained that OncIG’s mission is “to promote awareness and engagement in the field of oncology through community outreach and cancer awareness events as well as to advocate for patients' health through educational opportunities to better understand cancer care through prevention and treatment. We hope to increase awareness of cancer by engaging students through education and advocacy and aspire to be the next generation of compassionate oncologists through community outreach and patient centered initiatives.”
Cindy Malerba, M.A., Sharing & Caring Breast Cancer Education & Support Program Coordinator, Corewell Health Group East, works with the two student groups every year. She said that the care network at Corewell relies on donations from this event to support survivorship programs and functions. A portion of these donations are put toward the creation of a breast cancer health planner, given to every patient who receives a positive diagnosis.
“It means a lot to Sharing & Caring and to the Corewell Health East Breast Care Centers that Oakland University students care enough to want to give back in this way,” said Malerba. “Seeing their commitment to breast cancer patients now means they will be incredibly well-informed providers when they have completed their studies at OUWB.”
Cancer, especially breast cancer, affects an incomprehensible number of families worldwide. OUWB students said they understand that supporting the cause can assist in easing the burden of the battle.
“I had a couple of aunts pass away from cancer, and I think it’s important to donate and to continue to support people that are working with cancer patients and in cancer research. Beyond all of the scientific research, that is what is important for the future. It is important to have those resources accessible to families and patients,” said Branden Lee, M2.
