India Washington, Founder of Allygned Wellness & Health coaching service, partnered with local businesses to host ‘Ma’am in the Mirror’ Breast Cancer Awareness Event at Great Day Latte on Sunday, October 25th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. The event included entertainment, a panel discussion featuring local healthcare professionals, testimony from breast cancer survivors, and an auction of unique locally-commissioned art.
The awareness event was held in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and aimed at blending education with community and creativity, according to the press release. At the event, Washington explained that the idea came to her when she saw a research study showing that women largely stopped going to regular screenings after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The way that we are proactive when it comes to our health is it starts with education and awareness,” said Washington. She organized this event to be an outlet for people in the community to learn, connect with healthcare providers, and bring the prevention aspect of healthcare back to the forefront of discussion.
The event began with a ‘Beat Breast Cancer Rally’ featuring high-energy performances by the B.C. Rain High School drumline to welcome guests.
Following the rally, the ‘Mirror Panel’ began with testimony from Donna, a survivor of stage 2 breast cancer. “It does take a village to get through it,” she said. She cited support from friends, coworkers, and communicative doctors at USA Providence as driving forces of her recovery despite her initial fear and worry.
Following her testimony, breast surgeon Caroline McGugin, OB-GYN Brittney Laughlin, and breast cancer navigator Libby Hedley from the Infirmary Health system shared their insights on breast cancer prevention, early detection signs, and the importance of lifestyle. They stressed that patients should advocate for their health and go to regular screenings, as being proactive is better than needing to be reactive in terms of healthcare.
Dr. McGugin cited a healthy diet, regular exercise, and moderating alcohol consumption as factors that can lower the chance of developing breast cancer.
Hedley also explained that Mobile has some resources for care for those without health insurance. She says the local health department is a good place to start. There’s also a program called the Alabama Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program that can aid in providing resources to women needing screenings, diagnostics and so forth.
After the panel discussion, local artists had the chance to speak about their mirror-themed pieces commissioned for the event and auctioned off to attendees. A portion of auction proceeds directly benefitted the local breast cancer advocacy organization, Project Faith, that helps women pay for screenings.
Other partners of this event included the Physician’s Committee of Responsible Medicine and Wholistic Wellness Community, a local advocacy group focusing on access and education for underserved communities with regard to healthy diet and plant-based nutrition.
“Of course no one is really exempt from breast cancer but we really highlight the prevention aspect of breast cancer using whole food plant-based nutrition, a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol,” said Angelia Dickinson, Executive Director & Founder of Wholistic Wellness Community. “When you know better, you can do better,” she added.
Additionally, Kimberly Knight, owner of Great Day Latte, says she was happy to provide the space for this event.
“With the different events that we do it’s a great response because a lot of people are concerned about health . . . just community as a whole, and they find Great Day Latte as a place that is actually comfortable, they feel relaxed, they feel welcomed and they don’t mind, you know, being themselves, speaking up and speaking out which, again, is one of the reasons why it was created,” she said.
This awareness event appears to have a bright future, as India Washington shares,“This is not just a one-time event – this is our inaugural event and we hope that next year that sponsorship grows and our community actually comes out in larger numbers to support the cause.”
