By Hazel Scott/ASU
Pink shirts and ribbons filled the Alabama State University (ASU) Joe L. Reed Dunn-Oliver Acadome entrance on Friday, October 23, as students, faculty, staff, families and community members gathered for the second annual Pink Strides & Slides Breast Cancer Awareness Walk & Block Party.
United by a shared commitment to awareness, the participants walked to the Acadome steps to celebrate breast cancer survivors, honor loved ones lost to the disease and encourage others to take an active role in safeguarding their health.
The morning began with a one-mile walk led by ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets band and cheerleaders, whose energy and enthusiasm set an uplifting tone for the event.
For many, the walk was deeply personal, reflecting the lasting impact breast cancer has on families, friendships and communities.
Dr. Komal Vig, a professor of biology at ASU, participated in honor of a close friend who was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer seven or eight years ago. Her friend was barely 40 when she received her first mammogram. At the time, her child was in the fifth
grade; today, that child is a freshman at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Vig recalled how her friend faced the diagnosis with remarkable determination and reassured those around her that she would overcome the disease.
“She told me not to worry, that she would beat it, and she actually did,” Vig said. “She is fine now — healthy and happy. During treatment, she lost her hair, but now she has beautiful hair again. Throughout her cancer journey, she never lost her spirit.”
Vig’s story reflected the hope that brought so many participants to the event: the belief that, even in the face of a frightening diagnosis, inner strength, support and perseverance can make a difference.
Landon Jackson, who participated in the walk for the first time, walked in honor of his grandmother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. He described how the diagnosis affected both him and his mother as they stood beside his grandmother through appointments and rounds of chemotherapy.
“It took a lot from my mother and me, but we were at her side for every checkup and all the rounds of chemo,” Jackson said. “But she has gotten better, and she has beaten cancer.”
With a smile, Jackson credited his grandmother’s fighting spirit to the family that helped shape her.
“She’ll tell you it’s because she was raised by nine brothers,” he said. “I’m telling you, it was her fight and spirit.”
His words captured the determination of a family that faced the uncertainty of cancer together and found renewed hope in his grandmother’s recovery.
The spirit of support extended beyond individual families. Approximately 40 scholars and five teachers from Valiant Cross Academy in Montgomery joined the walk, demonstrating their commitment to standing with survivors and those affected by breast cancer.
Michel Scott, a teacher at the academy, said the students and educators wanted their presence to send a message of solidarity to anyone facing the disease.
“We are walking for everyone out there who needs to know they aren’t alone,” Scott said.
Students Xavier Simpson and Jaime Crumbling echoed that message, emphasizing the importance of making survivors feel acknowledged, valued and supported.
“We want the survivors to know they are seen, that we care and that we recognize the importance of what they are going through,” Simpson said.
The Valiant Cross students’ participation underscored the importance of teaching compassion and encouraging young people to support others through life’s most difficult challenges.
Following the walk, participants gathered for a Survivor Recognition Ceremony honoring individuals whose lives have been touched directly by breast cancer. Survivors received certificates in recognition of their strength, courage and perseverance.
The heartfelt recognition offered an opportunity for the community to celebrate the survivors’ journeys and acknowledge the families, friends and caregivers who stood beside them.
ASU President Quinton T. Ross Jr. praised the campus community for coming together in support of breast cancer awareness, noting that collective action is essential to the fight against the disease.
“Seeing this entire campus show up to support the cause is the real victory,” Ross said. “We are running toward a future where we conquer this disease together.”
Dr. Tanjula Petty, ASU’s vice president for Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Initiatives and Transformation and a breast cancer survivor, joined the walkers and shared a message rooted in both personal experience and the importance of prevention and early detection.
“There is nothing more important to me right now than the fight against breast cancer,” Petty said.
Petty also offered a meaningful way to remember the importance of breast health, using the word PINK to highlight four essential elements of awareness and action.
“P is for prevention — ensuring that you are practicing preventive care and taking care of your health and wellness,” Petty explained. “I is for information — staying educated about screening guidelines and when to start annual mammograms. N is for nurturing those who are on this journey. And K is for knowledge — knowing your body and recognizing unusual changes so they can be immediately evaluated by a doctor.”
Her message encouraged participants to move beyond wearing pink for a day and make breast health a continuing priority through education, preventive care, early evaluation and support for those navigating a diagnosis.
The program also featured recognition of Student Government Association President Myles Wilson and remarks by Miss Alabama State University, Annisia Naomi Dixon, who joined University leaders in highlighting the importance of awareness and community involvement.
After the ceremony, the Mighty Marching Hornets band and cheerleaders continued to energize the crowd with performances at the Pink Strides & Slides Block Party. The celebration featured music, line dancing, local vendors, treats, fresh juices and family-friendly activities. Attendees also had opportunities to connect with breast cancer awareness resources and engage with members of the ASU and Montgomery communities.
While the block party brought a festive close to the morning, the event’s message extended beyond the music and celebration.
“Each participant carried a personal reason for showing up — whether remembering someone lost, supporting a loved one, celebrating a survivor or encouraging someone to seek screening and care,” said Petty.
Proceeds from the event benefited the Cancer Wellness Foundation, further connecting the campus gathering to support for those affected by cancer.
Ross emphasized that through Pink Strides & Slides, ASU brought its community together around a message of hope, compassion and action.
“The one-mile walk served as a reminder that no one should have to face breast cancer alone and that awareness, early detection and the support of family, friends and community can make a meaningful difference," stressed Ross.