Kicking off a week of events to bring awareness to their “Think Before You Pink” campaign, the Women’s Center of Ramapo College held its second annual Couture for the Cure Fashion Show on Monday night. This is the first of a series of campaign events that brings attention to how, despite decades of awareness campaigns and billions of dollars raised, not enough progress has been made in eradicating breast cancer.
The campaign, “Think Before You Pink” is a project initiated by the grassroots organization “Breast Cancer Action.” Their purpose is to address what they view as the commercialization of the pink ribbon. The pink ribbon is symbolic in supporting breast cancer research, but BCAction believes that too much of the donated money is going towards researching a cure and not enough towards prevention or assisting patients in recovery.
As the BCAction website states, “after three decades of awareness campaigns and billions of dollars raised, breast cancer remains a public health crisis of epidemic proportions.”
Senior Ashley Cummings was the program coordinator for the fashion show.
“I became aware that the money being collected to research breast cancer is high, yet very little of that money is being used to actually prevent the disease,” Cummings said. “We support BCActon because they work to encourage government officials to look at regulations that help prevent breast cancer and to support patients in different ways.”
The show, held in Friends Hall, featured evening wear donated by Camille Le Vie, a Palisades Mall dress shop that participates in philanthropic fashion shows, and GlamHer, who also carries prom dresses and formal wear.
The evening opened with two dance numbers performed by the Ramapo dance team. The announcer of the evening, male model Jay Mar, excited the crowd with his upbeat commentary. The models, predominately Ramapo students, walked the runway in evening gowns and cocktail dresses. One shoulder looks were prominent as were strapless ensembles.
Events for the “Think Before You Pink” campaign continue during October. A movie screening of the documentary “Pink Ribbons” traces the history of the pink movement and how corporations use the ribbon as a marketing tool to promote their products.
On Thursday, a Cutathon is being held where participants will cut and donate 8″ of their hair to create wigs for patients of breast cancer who have undergone treatment and experienced hair loss.
On Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Theta Phil Alpha Sorority will host the Home Run Derby, a carnival of field events that will donate proceeds to breast cancer organizations.
For further information or to make a donation, contact the Women’s Center located at C-220 or women@ramapo.edu or by calling 201-684-7468.
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vdibianc@ramapo.edu
