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The 12th annual Breast-A-Ville at Millersville University will include pink fountains, a day of campus and community exhibitors educating the community on breast health, pink-outs at athletic competitions and several other events. Breast-a-Ville is an event created through the Breast Health Initiatives on campus to educate students of the importance of breast health and breast cancer awareness and prevention.
The fountains at Millersville will be dyed pink the morning of Oct. 4, the day of the event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Student Memorial Center.
“Each year, we try to have more healthcare providers come to campus and disseminate useful information for students in protecting their breast health,” says Dr. Dennis Denenberg, former professor of education and the impetus behind Breast-A-Ville. Denenberg has several Breast Health Initiatives on campus to honor his sister, Diana, who died of breast cancer. He says, “This year, we have more exhibitors than ever.”
A large part of Breast-A-Ville is about having fun while learning. Various campus groups will operate games to encourage students to relax and learn. “The most popular game always seems to be Bra Pong,” says Denenberg.
“There will be a high level of excitement because students are now remembering how important breast health is and how this event can help them learn to protect themselves,” says Denenberg. “Research shows that breast cancer is starting to affect younger women, so it is even more important for us to educate college-age students about proper self-exams and being aware of what they can do to protect themselves.”
Liz Fulmer, Millersville alumna, will perform a free concert on October 6. Her concert will run from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Ware Center. Fulmer is a local songwriter and singer. The Ware Center will be illuminated with pink lights on October 6 in honor of the event.
“In 2016, I met with Liz and I talked to her about my sister Diana,” says Denenberg. “As a result of that meeting, Liz composed a beautiful song called ‘Fighter,’ and she debuted the song at our Ware Center event that year. She will reprise the song on the first Friday of October, again at the Ware Center. It is an incredible song that captured the fighting spirit of my sister Diana. Also, Liz has donated the rights for the song to our campus endowment, called Diana’s Dreamers: Determined to Defeat Breast Cancer.”
The University Store offers a variety of Breast Cancer Awareness merchandise every October.
“We are very proud of the collection that we have put together this year,” says Mike Nitroy, university store manager. “We are offering pink t-shirts and long sleeves with the phrase “I wear pink for someone I love” on them, as well as a variety of “think pink” accessories including hats, magnets, key tags and more.”
A portion of all the proceeds from sales of this merchandise are donated directly to the Breast Health Initiative on Millersville’s campus. All of the merchandise will be available in the University Store during the month of October and on the website at www.mville.store.
The Millersville women’s volleyball team will be hosting a “Dig Pink” match on Friday, October 27. On this night, the team will be wearing specialty pink jerseys and asks fans to wear pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Planning Breast-a-Ville involves communicating with a lot of different people both in the community and on campus,” says Madison Rebman, department assistant for the chemistry department, who is helping to coordinate this year’s event.
For more information on how to join the Breast-A-Ville initiative, click here.
