As Breast Cancer Awareness month unfolds throughout October, sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) hosted a 5K event that people across the borderland attended and showed support for survivors and patients alike.
ZTA President Daniela Samaniego is a student at UTEP majoring in organization and corporate communications. Samaniego spoke about the event and its importance.
“We are hosting a 5K for breast cancer education and awareness,” Samaniego said. “One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer and that is a very terrifying statistic. Cancer is something that many people have been familiar with, and I think as we get awareness, we also raise money to those who need it is really important.”
The sorority hosts many events throughout October, this one being their special event. The run brought out the UTEP and El Paso community to run for awareness.
Junior nursing major, Aida Gandara-Sanchez is the vice president of philanthropy service and fundraising with ZTA. She was inspired to create this event seeing the increased interest in running in El Paso.
“I think it’s important because you never know, especially men and women, I don’t know if it’s known, but men and women do get it and it’s important to know your body and your breast and how any change can be something and just get your checkups and be aware of what your normal is.” Gandara-Sanchez said.
Many El Pasoans and UTEP students were running for family members who are currently battling cancer or those who have lost their lives to cancer.
Sandra Ramirez was searching for events that allowed her to show support for breast cancer awareness. As her searches were limited and could not find many events, ZTA was able to provide this event.
“In reference to our community, it has a lot to do with our resources funding,” Ramirez said. “To be very honest it’s not promoted a lot, so I’m glad that we were able to find this one, so we can support our family and friends or our families, friends that have passed away and still support them by doing these events.”
Breast cancer warriors also attended the event to join their friends and families and run or walk throughout the 5K.
Gavrila Guillen was one of the warriors at the 5K running amongst her friends and supporters and speaks about the importance of awareness.
“To be able to detect it on time and not think about breast cancer as death, we have a lot of options, and we have hope that everything is going to be okay,” Guillen said.
The successful event brought warriors, families, and friends closer together. For more information on other events hosted by ZTA can be found on Instagram @utepzta.
Avery Escamilla-Wendell is a contributor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @by_avery_escamilla.
