Campus groups embrace Think Pink event to fight breast cancer

By Tim Chaparro and Jack Sanchez

VCNC reporters

Ventura College was the scene of several Think Pink events Wednesday, Feb. 13, as the Lady Pirates basketball team, Psychology Club and other sponsors raised awareness and funds to fight breast cancer.

The main quad of the VC campus was the epicenter of the midday events; evening events took place at the Athletic Center, at the Lady Pirates’ game against Moorpark College and during halftime.

Pink was the color of choice for the all-day event.

The midday activities featured representatives from the Psychology Department, the local Ribbons for Life Breast Cancer Foundation, the Ventura County Star, and 105.5 FM.

Many of the participants had personal stories of family and friends affected by breast cancer, some who died from the disease and others who were survivors.

“I lost a cousin to breast cancer when she was only 30 years old,” said Ruby Delavirgen a VC student and new Psychology Club member. “This event really helped me know that I wasn’t alone in this experience.”

During halftime at the Lady Pirates’ game that evening, Mike Juarez, president of the Ventura College Psychology Club, spoke and presented a $500 check from the club to the Ribbons of Life Foundation.

The Ribbons of Life Foundation of Ventura County was the charity of choice for the events’ organizers; the foundation received all proceeds from VC’s Think Pink events. The foundation grew from the Breast Cancer Education and Advocacy Group, founded in 2002 at Ventura College by Lisa Barreto. The foundation recently received its non-profit status and started to form the first breast cancer resource center for Ventura County. The group offers breast cancer education, advocacy, a scholarship and a book donation program.

Speaking to the crowd at the game, Barreto, a VC graduate and breast cancer survivor, said, “Nothing means more than this day.” Then Barreto urged those in the audience who have been affected or know someone who has been affected by breast cancer to stand.

At first only a few people stood, but soon almost half the crowd was on their feet, a point Barreto and the foundation wanted to prove – that many people are affected by the disease.

“Tonight is a miracle in the making,” Barreto said. It is “how we rise after falling.”

Throughout the game, tables in the foyer were the site of a silent auction, an information and donation booth, a breast cancer quilt and a wall full of pink hearts with messages from and names of people attending.

Karen Brown M.D., vice president of the foundation, was excited by the success of the event. She stressed that every cent earned would stay in the county to support its residents, adding that “(We) focus on living.”

More information on the Ribbons of Life Foundation is available at www.RibbonsVentura.org.