October na Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for Bryan-College Station, Texas, some restaurants and bars don team up with Pink Alliance for fundraiser wey dem call Eat and Drink for Pink. Pink Alliance na nonprofit wey dey serve Brazos Valley. For almost 20 years, di group dey provide reliable, informative resources and dey advocate for breast health and cancer support.
Pink Alliance President Doris Light say she happy for di partnership. Light talk say: ‘Through di years, dem don support Pink Alliance as group or individually, but e just nice to have dem all together once again and show support for ladies in Brazos Valley wey get breast cancer.’
Ten restaurants and bars dey take part dis month. Shipwreck Grill owner Wade Beckman say di matter hit close to home for many people. Beckman talk say: ‘I think Breast Cancer Awareness Month super important just because e highlight one cancer wey affect plenty people wey we know, our guests, our friends, our family, and e just something to highlight, remember, give back, and hopefully make difference.’
Light say all proceeds go stay with Pink Alliance to help people for di area. She talk say: ‘Our goal as whole na to take care of needs of our low-income ladies and men in Brazos Valley wey get breast cancer. Also, we get that Think Pink Mammogram program, and we just love to get anything because di needs plenty well well.’
Di fundraiser kicks off Tuesday and e go run every Tuesday in October. Restaurants and bars wey dey participate include Nam Cafe, Joe’s Place, The Angry Elephant, Yesterdays Bar and Grill, Third on Main Kitchen, C&J Barbeque, Downtown Uncorked, Shipwreck Grill, Kanji Sushi and Holleman Tavern. Guests fit visit any of dis places and mention Pink Alliance or Breast Cancer Awareness Month when dem dey order; proceeds go go Pink Alliance.
October 1 mark start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For 23 years, Surviving & Thriving Luncheon don raise more than $1.4 million for local breast cancer care. Dis year luncheon sold out, but organizers say people still fit help make difference. Pink Alliance dey host Surviving & Thriving Jewelry Raffle. Tickets na $25 each or five for $100. Di raffle prize na diamond double row cluster pendant from David Gardner’s Jewelers. Raffle tickets and info dey available at survivingandthriving.org. Winners no need dey present at luncheon to win.
Di 23rd annual Surviving & Thriving Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon scheduled for October 6. Di event dey celebrate survivorship and dey promote breast cancer awareness through speakers wey share messages of faith, hope and resilience. In November 2025, Pink Alliance launch THINK PINK Mammogram Program. Di program dey provide free screening mammograms on second Friday morning of each month through partnership with Brazos Valley Women’s Center. November mark one-year anniversary of di initiative. Di free mammograms dey available to women throughout seven-county Brazos Valley region. Appointments dey available regardless insurance status or ability to pay by calling 979-776-5602. Mammograms dey held at Brazos Valley Women’s Center, 1602 Rock Prairie Road, West Building, Suite 230, for College Station. People fit make general donation to Surviving & Thriving or support $125 Think Pink mammogram at survivingandthriving.org.
For another side, facing breast cancer fit dey terrifying, but for some Latina patients, something simple like hearing their surgeons speak Spanish fit change di experience. E no be just about understanding words, e be about feeling understood. Dr. Angelis Vázquez Pérez talk say: ‘E mean treating person throughout their journey in place wey dem feel comfortable, wey dem feel safe, and wey dem feel say dem fit express themselves.’
Dat bond don become part of wetin make di team at MedStar Georgetown’s Cancer Institute unique. Vázquez Pérez, Dr. Jennifer Son and Dr. Lucy María De La Cruz na breast surgical oncologists. All three Latina, all three speak Spanish, and all three know wetin e mean to enter profession where women wey look and sound like dem often dey underrepresented. Vázquez Pérez talk say: ‘E dey amazing to dey with two other Latina surgeons because less than 2% of surgeons in United States na Latina surgeons.’
Their paths different. Son na daughter of Guatemalan parents. Vázquez Pérez born and raised for Puerto Rico. De La Cruz born for Cuba, live for Africa and Spain and arrive for U.S. in fifth grade without speaking English. De La Cruz talk say: ‘I grow up for war zone for communist country. I be refugee, so I get plenty brokenness around me. And so di way I try fix am na by studying, by being responsible, by getting good grades, and then e just natural say I go become surgeon.’
She now be chief of breast surgery program, and she talk say somehow and organically, all three women find themselves for same team, coincidence wey dey make real difference for Hispanic woman wey dem diagnose with breast cancer. Son talk say: ‘Our hope na say dem go come seek care with us. We fit speak their language and be advocates for their health, raise breast cancer awareness and hopefully help dem for their journey for breast cancer care.’
Because speaking same language na about building enough trust for patient to ask questions wey she for otherwise keep to herself. Vázquez Pérez talk say: ‘Dem dey able to communicate with me wetin dey happen, how I fit help dem, how we fit talk about dis not only with themselves, but also with their family members.’ For Son, dat connection dey feel even more special. She talk say: ‘I love treating, first of all, all women, but when Hispanic woman come or Latina woman come, I feel like say na my mother, my sister or someone very close to my heart I dey treat.’
Di team don use their language and their culture as part of healing for Hispanic patients. De La Cruz talk say: ‘I usually tell patients, dem tell me, Thank you so much, and I be like, No, please no thank me. I get more from you than you get from me.’ And now dem also dey become something dem no always get growing up: example for next generation. Son talk say: ‘I actually write children’s book wey dem call Tiny Scrubs, Big Dreams, and so my hope na say any Latina, any child, any little girl go inspired.’
Di three doctors all share one mission: to make sure women know say dem no get to face cancer alone. De La Cruz talk say: ‘I no take that very lightly. And I think na sincere blessing say I fit do am for their language.’
