Plymouth State University

Plymouth, N.H. –Residents across New Hampshire are invited to Plymouth State University Saturday, February 2 for the “Think Pink” Breast Cancer Information Expo. Sponsored by PSU’s Department of Athletics, Center for Active Living & Healthy Communities and the Department of Health and Human Performance, this event is designed to raise community awareness about breast cancer including prevention, detection, treatment (both traditional and complementary), nutrition, rehabilitation, survivorship and family support. The Expo will be held in the PSU Physical Education Center and Field House from noon – 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 2. HHP Associate Professor Marjorie King was prompted to create this community outreach event through her own experience with breast cancer.

“It is important that the community is aware of the resources available to them, right in their own backyard, without having to make the trip to Boston,” King said. “Furthermore it is critical that we all understand that simply treating the disease is not enough. The individual must be given the opportunity to heal completely, providing support and services to guide the mind, body and spirit back to wholeness. The individual, spouses, children, family and friends are all affected and need to be active participants in this healing process.”

The Think Pink event is being held from noon – 4p.m. in conjunction with afternoon home games hosted by Plymouth State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. All proceeds from game ticket sales are being donated to the Play 4Kay Foundation, a national non-profit created in memory of North Carolina State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow that raises money for scientific research, assists the underserved and unites people in the fight against breast cancer. PSU alumna Morgan O’Connell, who helped organize the event when she was a graduate student in Health Education, said breast cancer impacts many families and providing information to them is a valuable community service.

“It is sad but inevitable that most of us will, in some way, be affected by breast cancer in our lifetime,” O’Connell said. “Whether it be a mother, sister, wife, husband or brother, it is important to know what resources are available and where. We are trying to make finding these resources as easy as possible for people in their time of need.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the U.S. Each year, about 200,000 women nationwide are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. In New Hampshire, approximately 1,000 New Hampshire women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer every year; on average, it will claim the lives of 200 women. PSU is offering this community outreach event to bring knowledge and hope to those families touched by this disease.

For more information about this event, to go: http://www.plymouth.edu/webapp/mahara/view/view.php?t=s91Z675QUdWw40VnAkyv or email psuthinkpink@gmail.com.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu