Busting a move for breast cancer | Metro

For a trio of Western University students, Kim Pritchard?s presentation was inspiring yet sobering.

When Pritchard spoke to a class of first-year health sciences students, it was part of a 50-presentation tour meant to garner interest in the Bust a Move for Breast Health event, set for April 6 at the London Convention Centre.

Melanie Lyons, Alyson Kincaid and Nina Polic, a group of friends in the class, left the presentation wanting to get involved and help the cause. But, the trio knew it would be a daunting task.

Raising $1,000 per person is not an easy feat for anyone, let alone a group of university students. They initially dismissed the idea but quickly changed their minds.

?Later that week while we were studying, Alyson said she really wanted to try and do it,? Lyons said. ?Her grandmother is currently battling breast cancer, and her other grandmother passed away from the disease. After sharing our experiences with cancer, we decided if we worked really hard we could raise the money.?

They started by reaching out to friends and family. Then, they tapped into the Western student body, which proved difficult, Lyons said, since most students are on a limited budget.

A pass-the-hat fundraiser got the ball rolling and was followed by a video game hockey tournament. Dubbed NHL for Charity, students living in residence paid a $10 entry fee to compete for bragging rights.

The trio also organized a successful bottle drive.

?It?s been difficult, but we?ve been able to raise more than half our goal so far,? Lyons said.

Fundraising as a group is an area where many teams have seen success, Pritchard said.

In all, there are 60 teams and more than 430 individuals registered for London?s inaugural Bust a Move, expected to generate close to $500,000 for medical equipment, patient care and comfort items at St. Joseph Health Care?s new Breast Care Centre.

Thanks to Pritchard?s presentations, there will be a strong presence from a younger crowd.

?Breast screening and breast health starts at a very young age,? said Pritchard, senior development officer at St. Joe?s. ?So we really wanted to get young people involved.?

Described as a ?day-long fitness extravaganza,? the event will be attended by 300 volunteers and will feature fitness sessions run by the Athletic Club.

Oh, and Richard Simmons will be in town for the final session of the six-hour day.

Lyons is looking forward to that and more. The 18-year-old broke her ankle last month but is still hoping to participate with her friends.

?Alyson and Nina have been exercising a lot,? Lyons said. ?And we?ve all made efforts to eat healthier. We?re very excited for the event, and we?re grateful to be able to share the opportunity as friends.?

For more information, visit bustamove.ca.

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Source: http://metronews.ca/voices/urban-compass-london/608468/busting-a-move-for-breast-cancer/

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