Video

Susan G. Komen on the Go came to OU Thursday to increase student awareness of breast cancer research and prevention. Watch

Darcy Adams, an adult higher education graduate student, sits inside of a pink trailer at a computer which has educational programs about breast cancer Thursday afternoon on the east lawn of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. The trailer, along with an informational table were set up as part of the Susan G. Komen for the cure event. Michelle Gray/The Daily

Susan G. Komen on the Go came to OU Thursday to increase student awareness of breast cancer research and prevention.

Many students stopped by the informational event between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. outside the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

“Our main goal is to empower and educate young women and men at these universities about breast cancer awareness and prevention,” said Tara Reyka, event tour coordinator.

The tour arrived in a pink trailer equipped with various tools for providing information to students.

“I’m actually really impressed about the outcome,” said Tiffany Pirtle , graduate assistant for Susan G. Komen at the Women’s Outreach Center. “I think it’s definitely eye catching; I don’t know how you could miss it.”

Screens in the trailer showed videos of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure events, including stories of male and female breast cancer survivors.

The videos also included speeches promoting breast cancer awareness by Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Val Skinner, founder of the Val Skinner Foundation, was also shown in these informational videos. The Val Skinner Foundation is a foundation that partners with Susan G. Komen.

The interactive videos allowed each person to learn more information about Komen’s life. Komen, Brinker’s sister, had a vision to help other women who were diagnosed with breast cancer after she was diagnosed.

Brinker is diligent in fulfilling her sister’s dying wishes of helping women fighting breast cancer and making others more aware, according to the video about Komen.

Pirtle, who is also an OU graduate student, said the staff at the center tries to inform students and make them more aware of their own risks, especially when it comes to their family histories.

“I think we all know someone or will know someone who has breast cancer,” Pirtle said.

University College freshman Amber Karty said she believes Susan G. Komen is helping the fight against breast cancer, especially in getting the government involved.

“We had an aunt who was diagnosed with it,” University College freshman Alyssa Karty said. “She was free of it for 10 years, but then it came back and she passed away.”

Pirtle said many people often overlook that men can get breast cancer too.

Entrepreneurship junior Hamid Pezeshkian said that he did not know much about breast cancer awareness until he participated with the collegiate entrepreneurs group at OU in the Race for the Cure.

“I want to support the program because it may affect me, my family or friends,” Pezeshkian said. “It’s making you aware and encouraging people to help out.”

Beginning this year, Komen on the Go is making 150 stops around the country.

“I hope they keep coming for the future generations,” chemical engineering sophomore Monica Maez said.