Have you inventoried your closet for any and all pink articles of clothing yet? If not, you need to do so soon, because you won't want to be without the recommended fashion statement during New Mexico State University's annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink Week, Sunday, Oct. 13, to Saturday, Oct. 19.
As usual, the TETWP planners have scheduled a week full of activities to help raise awareness about breast cancer and money for breast cancer research. NMSU is the host sponsor for Tough Enough to Wear Pink Week.
The week's events officially begin with the Pink Kick-Off and art gallery opening, to be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at the Corbett Center Student Union Art Gallery. TETWP memorabilia will be on display and refreshments will be available. Monday also features a speech by Jill Conley, terminal cancer warrior, at 7 p.m. in the Corbett Center Student Union Auditorium. These events are free and the public is welcome to attend.
Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32, Conley survived, but is now stricken with terminal bone cancer. She has devoted much of her time to raising awareness about breast cancer and funds for breast cancer research.
The much-anticipated Pink Dinner and Silent Auction will take place at Taos Restaurant, in partnership with Sodexo, from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15. This event is open to both the campus and Las Cruces-area communities. Two silent auctions will be held, one of them exclusively for students. A disc jockey will entertain the crowd and there will be contests and education throughout the evening. Students on a meal plan can pay with one card swipe, while the cost is $7.75 per person for non-meal plan attendees.
Wednesday, Oct. 16, has been designated as the Day of Healing. From 3 to 6 p.m., there will be demonstrations of coping strategies, such as yoga, along with a community health discussion about other coping mechanisms. This event will be held at the Corbett Center Student Union Outdoor Stage and Corbett Center Student Union Auditorium. The day's events will close with a viewing of "Finding Nemo" at 8:30 p.m. at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Both events are free and open to the public.
Rec Sports will offer Glow-in-the-Dark Sports free to NMSU students with a valid ID card beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17.
This year's Luminaria Lighting and Open Mic Night event will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, in the grassy area at the corner of University Avenue and Jordan Street. This year, 3,013 luminarias will be lit in memory and honor of breast cancer victims and survivors. Lighting and reading of names will occur at 6 p.m., followed by Open Mic Night on the patio of Barnes & Noble at NMSU. Sponsored luminarias will be available for $1 prior to the event by visiting the Housing and Campus Life office in Corbett Center Student Union. They also will be available the evening of the event.
The week comes to a close with the Cervantes 5K Run and Walk and the Tough Enough to Wear Pink football game Saturday, Oct. 19.
The Cervantes 5K Run and Walk will start and finish at Aggie Memorial Stadium, with all routes remaining on campus. The event begins at 8 a.m.; the entry fee for this event varies. Visit www.pinkaggie.com for registration details. A group rate is available.
All Aggies are encouraged to wear pink for the annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink football game, when the Aggies take on Rice at 6 p.m. Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium. TETWP will present a check to Cowboys for Cancer Research during the game.
Barnes and Noble at NMSU has a variety of TETWP gear available now. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of TETWP items will benefit TETWP.
For more information, contact Julie Weber, TETWP campus co-chair, at 575-646-4468 or jeweber@nmsu.edu. Visit www.pinkaggie.com for more information about TETWP.