Flowers promote breast cancer awareness

Landscapers planted an assortment of pink annual flowers all around the campus, specifically at the Showalter Fountain and the Sample Gates, to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, the flowers were planted the week of Sept. 18.

“We wanted to plant all of these flowers in advance of October,” University Landscape Architect Mia Williams said. “If we would’ve waited any longer, the flowers wouldn’t have made it through the fall weather.”

Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women.

According to the IU Health Blog, Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created to bring attention and awareness to early detection and for finding a successful treatment for breast cancer.

The color pink is supposed to show moral support for women with breast cancer.

Sophomore Maya Henderson said she appreciated the symbolic change of setting.

“This is a very noble gesture that they are paying tribute for all people with breast cancer,” Henderson said. “I like knowing the fact that a school like this can give a heads-up to matters like this with marvelous landscaping.”

The National Breast Cancer Foundation highlights the importance of its annual campaign to increase awareness of this deadly disease.

Planting pink flowers around Showalter Fountain provided not only scenery for passersby but also an acknowledgment of the fight against breast cancer.

“Increasing awareness of breast cancer, including through the way IU celebrates it, is undoubtedly one of the reasons more victims of the disease are winning battles with breast cancer,” IU medical student Stephen Duncan said.

— Anthony Broderick