PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY RECREATION
In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, University Recreation is hosting its annual “Power in Pink” event, according to a department official.
The event will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Texas Southmost College Recreation Center in Brownsville and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at University Recreation on the Edinburg campus.
Fay Kennan, fitness and wellness manager for University Recreation, told The Rider in a Sept. 24 phone interview the event has been happening since she joined in 2018 and is a way to honor the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“We want to make sure that we do our due diligence in trying to educate our students, our staff and our community about the importance of preventative care, specifically with breast cancer,” Kennan said.
She said the department will have on-campus partners to provide information and have several activities during the event.
“Having several activities to include Zumba and cycling and some other fitness demonstrations,” Kennan said. “We’re also going to be providing some snacks and beverages and a photo booth and T-shirts to the first 100 attendees at both locations, both in Brownsville and in Edinburg.”
The TSC Recreation Center will have “more of a cycle activity and tabling,” while the event in Edinburg is going to be incorporating more of a dance fitness, “Zumba-inspired workout with cycling as well,” according to Kennan.
Amy Guthrie, GX supervisor for University Recreation, said this is a wellness celebration and remember how fun exercise can be.
PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY RECREATION
“This is basically just a wellness celebration, celebrating what the human body can do in a collaboration with, you know, information that we’re providing with the community,” Guthrie said. “One of our favorite parts about this event is that we open it up to the community, providing them not only the information but also an opportunity to move their body and remember how fun it is to exercise in a less structured format.
Victoria Gutierrez, a graduate business administration student, said Breast Cancer Awareness Month means a lot to her because her aunt is a breast cancer survivor.
Gutierrez said she is glad an event like “Power in Pink” helps and educates students and staff.
“It’s great that we’re spreading awareness for breast cancer because it’s such a grueling disease,” Gutierrez said. “It’s hard and there’s many individuals that are affected by it. So, I’m glad UTRGV is promoting it as well by giving out free shirts so it can allow more people of all genders to come and learn about it.”
Lauren Sanchez, a biology senior, said the event can bring the community together.
“Not only gives the community to come together, but people who are involved in the work of breast cancer … who were or are breast cancer patients,” Sanchez said.
She added the event is “really good” for the faculty, students and the community.
