SLU ‘Fairy God Walkers’ Shine a Light for Breast Cancer Awareness

10/11/2019

Participating in what has become an annual tradition, more than 100 volunteers from Saint Louis University stepped up to walk for an important cause in downtown St. Louis as part of the 2019 Sista Strut Saturday, Oct. 5. The event raises awareness about how issues of breast cancer affect women of color and provides resources to a traditionally underserved part of the St. Louis community.

The SLU Fairy God Walkers team totaled more than 120 walkers, the event’s largest group to date., and raised more than $3,500 for local nonprofits that help women fighting breast cancer, support survivors and are active in breast cancer research.

Research has shown that African American women are more likely to develop breast cancer at a younger age and to die from the disease than Caucasian women of the same age. Sista Strut recognizes the strength of survivors and their families and friends, heightens awareness, promotes early detection and aids the search for a cure.

For the past nine years, the Sista Strut Breast Cancer Walk has heightened awareness about the issues of breast cancer in women of color, as well as provided information on resources and saved lives of women in our community. Sista Strut also recognizes the strength of survivors, their families and friends, and promotes early detection and the search for a cure.

This year also included a 5K Race for running enthusiasts. A number of SLU Billikens participated in the run, which was introduced for the first time at Sista Strut.  Charles Martin, assistant director of the Center for Global Citizenship, came in first place.

Five organizations in the St. Louis area will benefit from the 2019 event:

• The Breakfast Club Inc.
• The Pink Angels Foundation
• Siteman Cancer Center
• Mercy Breast Cancer Center
• SSM Health-St. Mary's Hospital