It’s October, which means breast cancer awareness month is in full swing. To help recognize this life-altering disease that has touched the lives of many, Marian University accelerated nursing students, staff and faculty have teamed up with the American Cancer Society to help sponsor this year’s premier fundraising event, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
We sat down with Christopher Zukas, Community Manager for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, to learn more about this exciting event, its impact on the community and how nurses in Indianapolis are changing the lives of breast cancer patients on a daily basis.
Image Source: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
You’re invited.
Imagine a crisp autumn day filled with hope, laughter, hugs and tears. A day devoted to survivors, patients, caregivers, and honoring loved ones lost. A day where the community unites together to raise funds for groundbreaking research, life-saving education, and critical patient services. That’s what the day holds for the Making Strides event.
This year, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will be taking place at Victory Field on October 22, 2016, marking its 19th anniversary in downtown Indianapolis. Put on by the American Cancer Society, and countless volunteers, this non-competitive 5k walk strives to raise funding to support and celebrate breast cancer survivors and their families.
“It’s an important celebration and the funds that are raised through making strides go towards critical support programs and research to help find cures by those impacted by this disease,” says Zukas, Community Manager for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. “Our volunteers are very diverse in nature, but they all have this calling or connection to the disease in some way, shape, or form.”
Breast cancer is one of America’s most common cancers diagnosed in women in the United States. It is also the second leading cause of death in women, after lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. So, wear your pink because you’re officially invited to join us in the fight against breast cancer.
Today’s Nurse: The frontline of healthcare.
Nurses from all over Indianapolis will be attending this groundbreaking event. Zukas says that when opportunities like this are presented in the community, registered nurses are the first to come out and support patients, friends, families and co-workers dealing with this life-threatening disease.
“Nurses are the frontline for patients going through this disease,” says Zukas.
Individuals facing this diagnosis can feel scared and alone, and are likely to have concerns about an uncertain future, the cancer spreading and the possibility of death. Nurses today are serving as a guiding light through their patients’ journey of doubt – decreasing anxiety and helping families to be optimistic during hard times.
“Nurses are there when these patients are hearing for the first time ‘you have breast cancer,’” says Zukas. “They are the first people to answer those questions of, ‘what does that mean?’, ‘am I going to lose my hair?’, ‘what’s the impact of this on my family?’, or ‘am I going to die?’ Their contribution is absolutely critical.”
Come join us!
Join the fight with Marian University’s accelerated nursing program on October 22 at 9am. You can find us located on the third base entrance gate. We will have promotional items and information on how you can pursue your passion for helping cancer patients by becoming a nurse in as few as 16 months.
If you are unable to attend the event and are interested in learning more about our accelerated nursing program, contact an ABSN admissions advisor and find out how you can get started.