People from all over the Lafayette-Oxford community put on their pink shirts and tennis shoes on Sunday, March 24, and came together at The University of Mississippi College Panhellenic Council CARE Walk, a walk around campus in support of breast cancer awareness.
This year’s event raised $30,000 for the Baptist Cancer Center – North Mississippi.
Shaelen Hudson, a junior biochemistry and business major, currently serves as the vice president of philanthropy for the UMCPH and was in charge of leading the event.
“CARE Walk is the College Panhellenic Council’s annual charity walk event benefiting Baptist Cancer Center – North Mississippi,” Hudson said. “All donations and proceeds generated from CARE Walk will have an immediate impact on our community, as they are being used to grant transportation to the cancer center, fund mammograms and procedures for those who otherwise are unable and advance breast cancer research. This year’s event will be the first CARE Walk since October 2022 and its first occurrence in the spring semester.”
Hudson went into detail about why she loves the CARE Walk.
“I have always had a love for giving back and serving others, so it is truly an honor to serve the university and LOU community in such a capacity as this,” Hudson said. “It is incredible to see the entire Panhellenic community come together to not only raise money but also participate in a walk throughout campus to remember those who have/continue to fight against breast cancer. I am so proud to lead an event that’s impact extends beyond our campus and to those in our own community.”
Sarah Owens, a junior dietary nutrition major and president of the 2024 Panhellenic Executive Board, explained how this philanthropy is important to the Oxford-Lafayette community.
“This event is really special not only to the Baptist Cancer Center, but it’s really special to the CPH community and the entire Greek life community at Ole Miss,” Owens said. “We get to actually see the benefits of it, as it’s not one of those events where you raise a bunch of money and don’t get to see how it’s benefiting. It stays right here in the Oxford/Lafayette community.”
Carly Moore, a freshman exercise major, explained that she participated in the event to honor a beloved doctor from her hometown.
“I’m here for Katie Patterson,” Moore said. “She was a doctor in my hometown and did literally everything, as she was very involved in my school and was part of the soccer society and theater. Katie ran everything and being a doctor on top of all of that, so she was really amazing, and I’m doing this in memory of her.”
Diane Marler, a breast cancer survivor from Houston, Miss., also participated in the event and told her story about breast cancer.
“I was diagnosed the first time in 1996, and I went through lumpectomy and 36 rounds of radiation,” Marler said. “That was good for a few years, but I always remembered to go get a mammogram every year. I’ve had breast cancer three times and all three times were different.”
Marler explained what kept her strong throughout it all.
“From (ages) 7 to 15, we have three children,” Marler said. “They are my greatest accomplishments, and I couldn’t have done anything better with my life than to have my three children. And so it was making sure that I stayed healthy for them with the support of my sisters, my husband, my children, my grandchildren and my church.”
Jenny Brown, a breast cancer navigator for the Baptist Cancer Center, shared the heartbreaking parts of her job, giving insight into the emotional processing that comes with a breast cancer diagnosis.
“I am there with them holding their hand when they learned that they have the diagnosis of breast cancer,” Brown said. “I follow every one of my patients for their entire journey that they have with us at the cancer clinic, and I am there as a great resource as a support as a shoulder to cry on and someone to pray with, as I am always with my ladies. I’m available to all of my ladies 24/7, and they know that, and I think that gives them a sense of relief and security knowing that I have their back, period.”
