Aqua Rams Hosts Breast Cancer Awareness Walk for the Survivors and Those Lost

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Photo by: Krystle Nozartash

Board of pink ribbons along the FCC Cafeteria wall to support the survivors, fighters and those who lost their battle to breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness is an event organized by the Aqua Rams club with the support of the Student Activities department at Fresno City College on Oct. 26.

The event kicked off with a Breast Cancer Awareness walk on the FCC campus from the Veterans Square to Old Administration Building (OAB) from 11-11:30 a.m. 

The walkers were provided pink ribbon pins donated by the American Cancer Society. After the walk participants gathered in the OAB room 251 for a panel discussion. 

During the panel, Cris Monahan-Bremer, FCC director of marketing and communication, Delia Makel, FCC digital media and graphic designer, and Linda Dekruif, FCC cultural and women’s studies professor, shared their stories about the fight against breast cancer.

“Personally for me the biggest challenge as a breast cancer fighter was sharing my anxiety, being okay with sharing what I was feeling with my family. I don’t wanna have them see me suffering,” said Makel, ovarian cancer survivor. 

Leah Foraker, mammography technologist, graduated from FCC specializing in mammography, was a breast cancer survivor who shared her story.

Foraker was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer when she was a student at FCC. She started her chemotherapy along with school and work, graduated from school and passed her national exam to become a technologist and help breast cancer patients.

The event ended with 100 carnation flowers flowing in the small fountain, giving condolences to breast cancer fighters. 

Starbucks Coffee and Mel’s Delights provided hot coffee, cold coffee, iced tea and pink ribbon shaped cookies during the closing event.

“One of the goals is also to create a tradition to make this event bigger and bigger as the FCC Asian Fest, But the main goal is to promote awareness about breast cancer,” said Ramon Alejandro Gallardo Olvera, President of Aqua Rams Swimming Club and member of Inter-Club Council of FCC.