Student-run public relations firm QuinniPR will continue to raise breast cancer awareness this Wednesday with its fourth annual Passionately Pink event.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 8, students can buy pink hair extensions, participate in raffles and pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer in the Piazza.
Created in 2011, Passionately Pink supports the Susan G. Komen Foundation in its fight against breast cancer. The disease is the second leading cause of death among women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Former VP of Media Relations Michele Monteiro was inspired to bring the event to campus after a family friend battled breast cancer, co-director Christine Patti said. Over the past few years the event has helped promote both breast cancer awareness and QuinniPR.
“At the time we didn’t really have a lot of events that we did for ourselves, we were more focused on doing things for clients,” Patti said. “We thought it would be a great way to promote ourselves while also helping a great cause.”
Two new additions to this year’s event include #Strands4Hope bracelets and a photo booth. Students can buy the pink bracelets for $1 and are encouraged to use #Strands4Hope when posting their photo booth pictures on social media.
Freshman Olivia Tsouprake heard about the event from flyers in the café and said she’s excited that QuinniPR is raising breast cancer awareness on campus.
“I think the pink hair idea is a really cool idea and it’s a fun way to get awareness out,” Tsouprake said.
Students from the Paul Mitchell cosmetology school in North Haven will oversee the installation of the pink hair strands. Patti said she has really enjoyed working with the Paul Mitchell students in the past couple years.
“They’re very qualified and very professional,” she said. “I think it’s a draw for students because knowing that they’re professionals overseeing everything is a cool aspect to it.”
Patti says she hopes to see a more educational aspect brought to the event in the future, especially considering that the majority of Quinnipiac students are female.
“I think it’s an important event especially on a campus where there are a lot of women,” Patti said. “It’s important to get the word out and keep your friends healthy and take care of yourself.”
Though Tsouprake said she likes the current setup of the event, sophomore Percy Algarate said he would also like to see more information about breast cancer at future events.
“If there’s a way to incorporate it with all the fun that’d be a really good idea,” Algarate said. “People from different backgrounds might not know about it because they didn’t experience cancer in their family so they’re not aware of what it means to have that support and how much they can really help someone else.”
