Natasha Sutherland, event organizer and president of Phi Alpha Honor Society, center, architectural engineering sophomore Kyra Williams, left, and computer engineering junior Will Adams lead the group during the Steps of Hope event Oct. 21 at UTA. The walk was hosted by the Phi Alpha Honor Society for social work.
Photo by Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
Students walked an approximately 30-minute lap around campus in Phi Alpha Honor Society pink shirts for the School of Social Work’s first Steps of Hope event Tuesday.
The student-led event was held to show support for survivors of breast cancer, those who are being treated and those who have passed from it, said Natasha Sutherland, president of the honor society and social work master’s student.
Nursing sophomore Olivia Aghamie, left, and Jahla Stephens, social work graduate student, walk side by side during the Steps of Hope event Oct. 21 at UTA. The walk began at the School of Social Work Social Grounds.
Photo by Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
“I know many times people who may be suffering, they don’t have the support,” Sutherland said. “But just being able to come together to show that, okay, support is there if you reach out.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
A map showing the walking route lies on a table during the Steps of Hope event Oct. 21 at UTA. The event aimed to honor survivors and those lost, and raise funds for cancer research and local support services.
Photo by Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
Sutherland said she had a friend who passed away due to breast cancer and had a scare herself earlier this year. She said she also knows several people who’ve had mastectomies and are living healthy lives.
“We actually took steps with the hope that persons are more aware of breast cancer and the impact it has on our lives,” she said. “Just join with others as we walk, as we continue to fight this illness.”
Participants relaxed while walking around the perimeter of campus.
Jahla Stephens, social work graduate student, holds a bottle of water and a snack after finishing the Steps of Hope walk Oct. 21 at UTA. The event began at 12:30 p.m.
Photo by Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
Jahla Stephens, social work master’s student, said she came to the event because she likes to advocate for populations that don’t get as much attention.
“I like to support people, help people, in any way that I can,” she said.
Stephens said she enjoyed the cool weather during the walk and how non-social work majors also showed up to support.
Social work senior Bryan Popp, left, and web software specialist John Sevier talk while walking during the Steps of Hope event Oct. 21 at UTA. The student-led cancer awareness walk brought together students, faculty and community members in solidarity with cancer patients.
Photo by Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
“It’s important for people to collab that’s not just in social work, but everyone,” she said.
The Phi Alpha Honor Society hopes to increase the reach of Steps of Hope next time, Sutherland said.
“This gives us an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and look and see how we can get more students involved, more of the UTA campus involved in this event,” she said.
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