Grambling Students Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence
Kyla Nelson will always remember Sister Felicia Williams, her youth pastor from Mesquite, Texas, who passed away from breast cancer last year, as a source of inspiration.
“I really miss her, and I am still thinking about her,” said Nelson, a freshmen Student Government Association (SGA) senator. “I think events like this really unify the community. I support everyone who is dealing with domestic violence and my friends and family who have been affected by breast cancer.”
Nelson, along with dozens of people from Grambling State University and Grambling Laboratory High School, released pink and purple balloons on Oct. 1 in honor of loved ones affected by breast cancer and domestic violence.
“The pink and purple sendoff was to bring awareness to domestic violence and breast cancer,” said Sophomore Class President Adarian Williams, who started the event in 2014. “We had people write on balloons to people who had experienced breast cancer or domestic violence. We had faculty, staff and students come out and share their stories. Throughout these stories, we can see how people survived domestic violence and breast cancer. Anything that you go through in life, you can survive.”
Students from 4-H, Future Business Leaders of America and the Student Council at Grambling Laboratory High School also participated in the event. Barbara Gauldan, a science teacher who released a balloon for her mother, Helen Gauldan, said the high school students have been participating in a number of events to raise awareness for breast cancer, including a competition to see which class can raise the most money during the month of October for the American Cancer Society.