Every October, communities worldwide support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness, promoting early detection and contributing to research. With efforts ranging from health screenings to local fundraising, organizations bring support to one of the most common cancers among women.
Elon University and the surrounding community supported the cause.
Elon University partnered with Cone Health, a nonprofit healthcare network, to bring a mobile screening van to campus Oct. 22. The cancer screening unit, stationed at Koury Parking Lot during HealthEU Day, provided mammograms to 45 individuals.
Christine Brannock, the system-wide oncology outreach manager at Cone Health, explained the importance of these mobile units in promoting early cancer detection throughout the region.
"The mobile screening van is organized based on the need of the community," Brannock said. "It is very important to get your mammograms every year, beginning at age 40, because the earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chance of survival.”
The mobile screening unit travels multiple times each month across Guilford, Alamance, Rockingham and Randolph counties, and brings essential cancer screenings to communities in need.
Along with mammograms, the mobile unit also provided more services to Elon's campus and attendees of HealthEU Day.
"In addition to the breast cancer screenings, we offer colorectal cancer screenings and prostate cancer screenings at this event," Brannock said. "We also provide education materials on different cancers to increase cancer awareness for the Elon community."
Local downtown restaurant Pandora's Pies also supported breast cancer awareness by donating a portion of its October sales to breast cancer research.
For the 12th year in a row, the restaurant is donating 10% of the proceeds from its garlic knot sales to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, accounting for sales across online orders, dine-in and takeout.
Kimberly Holt, the owner of Pandora's Pies, shared that the restaurant's commitment to breast cancer awareness is driven by the widespread impact of the disease and a desire to give back.
"It's something we've done every October since we opened," Holt said. “Most people know at least one person that has been affected with breast cancer. So it's just something nice that we can do every year to help give back."
Customers have embraced the campaign, with feedback being overwhelmingly positive year after year.
"I feel like they taste better in the month of October when they're in the shape of ribbons because you know that there's money that's going to be donated for good cause," Holt said.