At Wallace Community College Selma, a walk through the quad carried a message that reached beyond campus. Students, faculty and staff came together during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to honor survivors, remember those who have died and encourage one another to make their health a priority.

The college’s “Pink Out Tech” event brought the campus community together around a cause that has touched many families. Participants wore pink and walked in support of those affected by breast cancer, including WCCS President Dr. Donitha Griffin.

For Karen Brown, WCCS Career Coach Coordinator and Testing Specialist, the walk was both a tribute and a call to action.

A walk with purpose

“We’re at Wallace Community College Selma in the quad area doing a breast cancer walk in honor and memory of those that have passed on or survived breast cancer,” Brown said.

Brown encouraged participants to carry the day’s message into their own lives by discussing mammograms with their health care providers, paying attention to changes in their bodies and seeking medical evaluation when something feels unusual.

“If they feel a lump or something unusual, go get it checked immediately,” she said.

Awareness and timely care

Brown also raised concerns about the higher breast cancer death rates experienced by Black women and emphasized the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment. Her message underscored the need to keep conversations about breast health visible and accessible in the community.

Mammograms can detect breast cancer before a lump can be felt, and treatment is more likely to be successful when the disease is found early, according to the American Cancer Society. Awareness of breast changes supports that conversation but does not replace recommended screening.

For Brown, encouraging others to seek care is rooted in personal loss.

A personal reason to keep speaking

Brown said several friends and family members have been affected by breast cancer. One close friend died last year after experiencing the disease multiple times and undergoing a double mastectomy.

Those experiences give added meaning to her efforts to encourage students and community members to take their health seriously.

“Early detection saves lives,” Brown said. “The earlier you get it checked, the better your
chances for survival are.”

Brown, who has served Wallace for nineteen and a half years, said the college continues sharing breast cancer awareness information each October and encouraging students to be proactive about their health.

Continuing the conversation

The walk offered a visible expression of support, but Brown stressed that the conversation
continues after participants leave the quad. Information shared during Breast Cancer Awareness Month helps keep breast health in focus and encourages students to follow up with their doctors.

At Wallace, the event connected remembrance with action. It honored lives touched by breast cancer while reminding the campus community that caring for one another also means encouraging timely care, asking questions and making space for conversations that can affect families for generations.