Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) students recently gathered for Pink Power Against Cancer, a special Breast Cancer Awareness Month event to encourage preventive care and pray for those affected by the disease. PBA’s student-led Dream Praisers Club hosted the event.
Spurred by breast cancer’s impact on 1 in 8 American women, and even women within their own communities, the club’s student praise dancers wanted to create an opportunity to share information about screenings, healthy lifestyle choices and support those facing breast cancer.
“In my senior year of high school, I had a medical teacher who was diagnosed with this disease,” said Annabella Velez, sophomore biology major and vice president of the Dream Praisers Club. “I witnessed her treatment journey, which included a mastectomy. Her resolve to educate on breast cancer while she herself was going through it truly inspired me to speak up about breast cancer awareness.”
PBA Visiting Lecturer of English Dr. Jennifer Bird served as the event’s keynote speaker. Drawing from her experience as a pastoral care volunteer at Jupiter Medical Center and as an English professor, Bird discussed how writing can help patients process their experiences and prepare conversations with their medical teams.
“Writing helps patients process their thoughts and relieve stress,” Bird said. “It also helps them organize questions and ideas to share with their medical team.”
Bird explained that writing can benefit patients facing a variety of health challenges, not just cancer.
The program also featured a presentation from the Dream Praisers Club president, a call to worship, poetry readings, a Q&A session, and a praise dance that the club members performed, blending their passions of worship and dance with a universal cause..
Bird also highlighted the importance of standing alongside patients as they navigate their healing journeys.
“Almost everyone knows someone who has been impacted by breast cancer,” Bird said, adding that one of her friends is currently facing the disease.
Pink Power Against Cancer marked the Dream Praisers Club’s first major event since becoming an official student club at PBA. They plan to host more events with the mission of empowering others to worship God through creative forms and use their platform to address important cultural and social topics.
Learn more about PBA clubs and organizations here.
