Sweet Way to Defeat Breast Cancer

 Photo Courtesy of Cherish Hall

Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, people fight cancer, raise cancer awareness, and support the cause everyday around the world. Last week, Cherish Hall, a Concord University alumni, came to Concord University and sold her homemade baked goods to fundraise $1,800 for her charity, “AVON 39 Walk to End Cancer.”

According to Avon Foundation, since 1992 the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has been working tirelessly to help prevent, treat, and ultimately eradicate this disease. With more than $815 million raised and donated to breast cancer programs around the world through 2013, Avon is the leading corporate supporter of the cause globally.

AVON 39ers have banded together since 2003 in solidarity with one goal: to take breast cancer down. The Walk is a two-day annual event sponsored by Avon to raise funds for cancer and honor those who won against cancer as well as those who lost their battle. Throughout the years, 207,000 men and women participated in the Walk, walked nearly seven million miles together or individually around the country, and raised $550 million to end breast cancer. Leading up to the 39-mile walks, participants go through training, which includes a dedicated walking coach matched with them through AVON 39. Beyond putting in training miles to get towards the event’s finish line, runners/walkers must raise $1,800 in donations towards breast cancer research and treatment (AVON39.org)

Hall graduated from Concord University in December 2013. She currently lives in the area and “thought that doing a fundraiser on campus would help raise awareness of the AVON 39 Walk.” She committed to doing the AVON 39 Walk about a month ago.

Hall and her sister have joined together on a team called "The Greenbrier County Girls." Throughout 2015, there will be seven AVON Foundations for Women walks in seven cities: New York, Santa Barbara, Houston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Boston. They both planned to participate in the walk in Washington, DC in May given that they raise the required amount of support. Hall is a registered member of the “AVON 39 Walk to End Breast Cancer” taking place in Washington D.C. on May 2 and 3.

“My role as a registered participant is to raise a goal of $1,800 which supports breast cancer patients and research. I will be walking 39.3 miles over the course of 2 days,” says Hall.

Hall chose to support breast cancer awareness in honor of cancer fighters all over the world, saying “This cause is close to our heart.”

She explains, “I have a couple very close friends and a couple of family members who have been affected by this disease. Some are survivors and some still battling. 1 in 8 people in the US are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. Nearly everyone can say they have been affected by this horrible disease in some way or another. Whether it is a close family member or friend who has battled this disease, is currently battling, or is a survivor, we can all give our support in some way. Obviously our team alone cannot change the face of breast cancer and current treatment options available to patients but with the help of AVON 39 and its participants we can try. We chose the AVON 39 Walk because it's bigger than most events around our area and it challenges the participants. 39 miles is not an even feat to conquer but with the help of the local community we can make it!”

As of last week at Concord, Hall has sold different baked goods like various types of cookies, cupcakes, and chocolate covered pretzels and raised $90. Hall shared that her family has been selling items at a local flea market. They also have a couple other bake sales in other locations planned. They ran a campaign to sell Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts online. “I will also be involved in the Spring Fling Blacklight BINGO at Concord where students can give $1 and receive an extra playing card,” adds Hall. She has scheduled a few other fundraisers and has posted their page on social media websites where anyone can make a donation.

Hall encourages Concord students, faculty, and staff to participate in the cause by supporting her team and helping her earn our 39. Donations can be made online by visiting her team’s page on avon39.org "The Greenbrier County Girls."