Students plant tulips to raise awareness
Everyone was invited to plant a pink tulip in memory of those who have suffered with breast cancer, past or present, Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Logan River Golf Course, said Patricia Stevens, director of the Women’s Center.
Stevens said the plant a pink tulip organization started in 1998 by Janet Osborne, the previous Women’s Center director. Stevens said Osborne got the idea because she read a book called “Our Gift of Love” by several women authors in Salt Lake City who all experienced breast cancer. One of the authors died and the other authors requested that a pink tulip be planted for their lost friend. Osborne started the yearly tradition of planting pink tulips in Logan for breast cancer victims and survivors.
Every October for the past ten years, the Women’s Center in Cache Valley has been planting pink tulips in different locations across the valley in memory of those who have suffered or who are currently suffering with breast cancer, Stevens said. October is breast cancer awareness month, so that is when the plantings occur in Logan, she said.
Stevens said there are currently 13 sites across the valley where tulips have been planted. The first location the tulips were planted was by the Animal Science building on campus.
“Everyone has probably noticed the beautiful pink tulips by the Animal Science building,” Stevens said. “Anytime you see a pink tulip it was probably planted by the Women’s Center.”
Stevens said the tulips are donated every year by the Wuthrich Greenhouse. There are also monuments donated at every planting and the marble markers have been donated for the past three years by Brown’s Monument, she said. The monuments read, “Plant a pink tulip project; In memory of and tribute to breast cancer victims and survivors and to those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. This project was coordinated by the USU Women’s Center with the help of friends, family and campus and community organizations.”
Stevens said they plant pink tulips because “pink is the nationally known color for breast cancer. All of the ribbons, everything used is always pink.”
Stevens said for the past two years she has been coordinating the event and the turnout has been good.
“There is a real mix of student and faculty and community members,” she said. “We usually get around 50 people per planting. Last year we did two plantings that were about a week apart from each other and both times at least 50 people showed up. This year with the weather being iffy that might affect the turnout. We hope the weather doesn’t keep people from coming out. We hope we can go ahead and plant Saturday.”
The weather Saturday was cold with snow flurries at the beginning of the event and around 30 people showed up to plant tulips.
Amy Williamson, American studies graduate student, said this was her first time at this event. She said she decided to come because her mom’s best friend has breast cancer and she wanted to show her support for her by planting a tulip for her.
“I think this event is absolutely wonderful. It’s good to raise awareness of the seriousness of breast cancer. I think it’s good to spend a few hours to give back to the women that are struggling with breast cancer,” Williamson said.
Stevens said early detection of breast cancer is the key to saving lives.
“We want people to learn how to do monthly self exams. If you happen to find a lump, be proactive about it,” she said. “The earlier the detection the better chance you have of removing it.”
Stevens said she feels privileged to be able to do this event every year. She said she feels blessed to be supported by the community and students and faculty.
“I noticed that students who come, come again and again because their lives have been touched by breast cancer,” Stevens said. “We don’t want people to think this is a sad event; it is more of a celebration of life than it is a sad event.”
–s.k.b@aggiemail.usu.edu