Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Every 13 minutes, a woman will die of the disease and, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Clearly, breast cancer is an epidemic that needs to be talked about and, in terms of prevention, the earlier the better. As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, both NC State and the greater Raleigh area have worked to provide a wealth of ways for students to come together in support of both breast cancer survivors and victims, as well as to inform the public of key prevention practices and warning signs.

The American Cancer Society has opportunities, both on and off campus, for active community members looking to show their support of breast cancer awareness month. This year marks the 10th annual Making Strides breast cancer walk — a 5K walk that works to raise money and community awareness for a prominent cause. Tracey Smith, the senior community development manager of the American Cancer Society’s southeast region, has been managing the event for the past six years.

“With cancer, for the most part, there’s not a lot of happy days,” Smith said. “This is our chance to honor and celebrate cancer survivors, and also to enlist the community to support us in our mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue.”

This year, the national phenomenon of Making Strides is coming to Midtown Park on Oct. 14. The fundraising event will boast everything from dedicated team members decked out in pink attire to live music. Working with the American Cancer Society for nearly 15 years, Smith has become an advocate for those suffering from what has unfortunately become a far too prevalent diagnosis.

“Not only students, but our community at large, should be thinking about breast cancer awareness, because there’s not a room you go into and ask, “do you know someone who’s been diagnosed with cancer?” [and someone doesn’t raise a hand] …’” Smith said. “In some way, everybody has some connection to cancer.”

Making Strides typically brings in 5-6,000 participants, forming an uplifting coalition full of support, strength and perseverance against an invasive disease. Part of the American Cancer Society’s mission when putting on fundraising events such as Making Strides is to highlight the importance of early detection and prevention. Smith said that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a nutritional diet, daily exercise and limited alcohol intake, is vital preventative practice.

Simply put, The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides offers the community a chance to walk for those who no longer can due to the disease. It offers the community a chance to walk alongside powerful survivors and, most prominently, it offers the community a chance to fight for a cure.

Although there are ways to support those suffering from breast cancer across Raleigh, one does not have to travel far to make an impact. NC State’s Relay for Life organization aims to raise money for necessary cancer research. The on-campus organization’s president, Samantha Gagnon, a fourth-year studying biological sciences, first got involved with Relay For Life after her grandma died of cancer when she was 10 years old — and has stuck with it ever since.

“Getting involved with Relay For Life is a good way to fight back against cancer, especially if you or someone you know has been personally touched by it,” Gagnon said. “All the money we raise goes directly to the American Cancer Society and they use that money to go toward patient programs, advocacy programs and cancer research.”

NC State’s Relay For Life organization has been thinking pink for quite some time now, and has planned a festival-like event — Breast Day Ever — in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Breast Day Ever will take over Harris Field on Oct. 26, highlighting key prevention and early detection practices through games and informational booths. Cotton candy will be provided.

Gagonon shared that her personal goal for Relay For Life this year is to get even more students involved with the group of dedicated cancer advocates, and offered advice to those looking to support and encourage cancer sufferers.

“The best way [to show support] is just to be supportive of that person,” Gagnon said. “At this point in the country, everyone is affected by cancer in some way, whether it’s first degree or second degree. It’s just so common now. It’s not a rarity.”

October acts as a refreshing reminder to take care of one’s health, to support those who are suffering from an all too common disease, and to celebrate those who have come out of a seemingly impossible fight with unwavering strength and bravery.

“With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it gives students the opportunity to rally around a cause that is bigger than all of us,” Smith said.

For more information on Relay For Life at NC State, visit the group’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ncsur4l/.