COB finds a purpose for pink

 
Breast Cancer Awareness month was celebrated in symbol, memory and testimony in “Pink with a Purpose” Wednesday.
The event sponsored by The Southern University College of Business, Black Executive Exchange Program and Collegiate 100 Black Men and Collegiate 100 Black Women.
“Pink with a Purpose” focused on those directly and indirectly affected by Breast Cancer with personal testimony.
Garrett Edgerson, a senior computer science major from New Orleans, was one degree of separation from his mother who was diagnosed.
“I’m talking on behalf of my mother who has had breast cancer for nine years,” Edgerson said.
He found out about his mother’s diagnosis when he was in eighth grade.
“My mother told me, my sister and my brother that she had breast cancer,” Edgerson said.
He initially did not know how to react to his mother having breast cancer and still doesn’t.
“I still don’t know how to react,” Edgerson said.
He is thankful for his mother’s life, his mother recently graduated from Southern University of New Orleans earning her Masters degree in social work.
Edgerson said it was difficult to see his mother go through breast cancer.
“I’ve never seen my mother with a bald head (before treatment).  That was just something I never wanted to see in my life,” Edgerson said.
He urged the crowd to get tested and know the symptoms of breast cancer.
“It can happen to anybody,” Edgerson said.
Janifer Peters a breast cancer survivor also spoke.
Peters discussed her experience when she first discovered she had breast cancer and coming to the realization that the cancer was out of her control.
“There’s a lot that you have to do. I had to go with a lot of things,” Peters said.
Peters discussed the tests she had to go through to have her cancer removed.
“All kinds of testing was coming within a week,” said Peters.
Peters said that she had to have ‘radical’ chemotherapy treatments.
“Even though this was a little pimple, it was a stage three,” Peters asked, “Do you know how close a stage three was?”
Peters said there are five stages, her doctor informed her of receiving chemotherapy and getting a port inserted for her treatments.  Despite her personal refusal she encouraged others to us their doctor’s discretion.
“I would encourage you to get a get a port if they said, ‘You need a port’,” Peters said.
Ramona Boatner, director of YWCA Encore Plus of Baton Rouge, was a guest speaker who provided statistics and information on breast cancer awareness.
According to the program’s website, Encore Plus is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
At the end of the program, balloons were given to the crowd, who moved outside, to release the balloons and pay respects to those who lost their battle and those still fighting for the cure.