P.I.N.K. in the CITY hosted its second annual event to raise money and spread awareness about how young women are affected by breast cancer.
Nicole Logan was inspired after learning her aunt was diagnosed with cancer, and did her research. She now hosts annual events and works with The Journey Continues and local artists spread her knowledge.
"We're not prepared, and we don't really know how to step up the preventative care. So I decided to use my love of the arts to really get the message out," Logan says while cancer affects everyone, a large percentage of African American women are dying from this disease.
Last year, the event garnered $600 to donate to The Journey Continues and this year, Logan hopes to reach $1,000. Paintings hang around the room decorated with white and pink balloons, all for sale to help spread awareness and fund the search for a cure.
Each painting has a story. One is about a son watching his mother suffer through cancer. "The seizures, hospitalizations, fever spikes, sudden nausea and host of other ailments would often leave her in pain and the family in broken spirits..." Terrence Wiley wrote to accompany a painting showing his mother as she once was, happy and healthy.
She is no longer with us.
Logan says women as young as 18 can get breast cancer, and to combat this, she and The Journey Continues suggest women conduct self breast exams once a month. "Knowing your history. Do your monthly self check, and check with the doctor and have an actual medical exam," Tiffany Mathis, Vice President of The Journey Continues, said.
Mathis said most often a partner finds the lump before you do.
Breast Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American women. About 27,000 African American women will be diagnosed this year.
