Poly Goes Pink 2018

November 2017     No Comments

Temperatures were only 55 degrees, but the bright sun in the sky above matched the bright spirits of those below as hundreds of faculty, students, and staff put foot to pavement October 17 as part of the 12th annual campus Breast Cancer Walk known as Poly Goes Pink.

The event raises awareness of the importance of early detection, recommended screenings, signs and symptoms of breast cancer, as well as honoring the breast cancer survivors within the campus community.

“Talking about it is essential and that’s why continuing to raise awareness is so important,” said SUNY Poly Web Coordinator Lynne Browne, herself a breast cancer survivor and co-founder of the annual walk. “It’s because of the broadening awareness of breast cancer that anyone, whether they are a student, staff member, or a family member dealing with cancer, can find a support system. They will realize that they are not alone and that there are resources available to them. That’s why I believe events like this are so important.”

Many students, faculty and staff taking part were dressed in some type of pink clothing, from sweatshirts to leggings, t-shirts, or even pink wigs, the universally respected color expressing support for women with breast cancer.

“Poly Goes Pink has been a tradition at SUNY Poly throughout my educational career,” said Michael Aiello, a SUNY Poly Graduate Student and Graduate Marketing Assistant. “I support Poly Goes Pink every year to help bring the campus community together to help spread the awareness during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Seeing the event grow throughout the years has shown how much the SUNY Poly campus is growing with students, faculty and staff.”

The event began at the Student Center with registration, games and plenty of photo opportunities with friends, colleagues, and even Walter the Wildcat. Once they stepped outside to make their annual trek across campus, those individuals became a sea of pink. Each one with a different history, background, and lives, but all coming together with one thing in common – they’ve all been impacted either personally, or through someone they know, by cancer.

Following the walk, which was sponsored by The Wellness Committee, the Small Business Development Center, the Wellness Center, Alumni Association, the President’s Programming Initiative, Wildcats Care and Colleges Against Cancer, participants gathered for a celebratory (and healthy) lunch and discussion by Dr. John Restivo, a Board Certified Radiologist and Chairman of Rome Memorial Hospital Medical Imaging Department.

Pink Pumpkin Sales in conjunction with the event helped to raise $295 for the American Cancer Society. Those pumpkins were donated by Cullen Farms of Richfield Springs.

Over the 12 years since its formation, more than $33,000 has been raised for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative.

“I look forward to October because of this event and every year I am overwhelmed by the campus community and the dedication to come together in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Stacey Genther, SUNY Poly Health Promotion Coordinator and organizer of this year’s event. “So many members of our college community have been and continue to be affected by breast cancer. This event demonstrates SUNY Poly’s commitment and support of increasing awareness and educating about breast cancer prevention and early detection.

The event also marked the premiere of this year’s Pink Glove Dance video, open to the entire campus community for involvement: