During the month of October, members nationwide of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, including the Sigma chapter at Baker University, are giving women the extra support they need for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Breast cancer affects so many people,” Kaylene Bonjour, Zeta Tau Alpha philanthropy chair, said. “It doesn’t just affect older women, it affects college women and men, and it is just a really big national thing.”

Breast cancer awareness is Zeta Tau Alpha’s national philanthropy, so during Breast Cancer Awareness month, the women in the sorority host events to create awareness on campus and to raise money to support the cause.

“(Oct. 3 through Oct. 7) is our ‘Think Pink’ week, which is nationally recognized with (Zeta Tau Alpha), and we’re doing different events,” Bonjour said.

Some of the events will include chalking Baker’s sidewalks with facts about breast cancer, an open house at the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter house, 503 Ninth St., and a fundraiser at Mr. Goodcents, 912 Ames St., which will donate a portion of its proceeds from the event to help support Breast Cancer awareness.

“We’ll have pink ribbons around campus, so people can show their support wearing those,” Rachel Felich, Zeta Tau Alpha President, said.

Baker University and Sigma alumna Reina Murphy is not letting the fact that she has graduated stop her from supporting the philanthropy she worked for as a student.

Murphy is now a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Kansas City Alumna chapter, and is attending events it will be hosting in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Every year (the alumnae chapter) dyes the fountains in Kansas City pink for October, so this Saturday is the opening to the dyeing of the fountains,” Murphy said.

The women of the alumnae chapter will have the fountain-dyeing kickoff at 9 a.m. Saturday on the Country Club Plaza, where they will dye the J.C. Nichols fountain pink and hand out pink ribbons and awareness information.

“There are so many woman that deal with breast cancer, and I just love spreading the word and being positive,” Murphy said.

Murphy also ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in August, which helped to make her work with Zeta Tau Alpha’s philanthropy more fulfilling.

“I have no attachment to the disease at all personally, but I think just running in the race this year made me more sensitive about it,” she said. “Seeing all the survivors at the race really showed me how great of a cause it is. They’re so grateful for all the work that (Zeta Tau Alpha) does and (what) all the other people working for the cause do for it.”