Family and colleagues of Ilyana Frias, a longtime paraprofessional and District 75 Brooklyn borough advocate who died of breast cancer in August, march in her honor, raising $6,270 in Frias’ name.
Breast cancer survivor Sarah Rehaoui, a substitute teacher, joins with colleagues in the UFT Teacher Center at PS 59 on Staten Island on Wear Pink Day.
Teacher — and photographer — Lee Alexander of PS 200 in Manhattan poses with colleagues as they make plans to march in the Manhattan Making Strides walk.
Even MS 581’s school mascot — normally a blue wolf — wore pink in solidarity with breast cancer survivors at the Brooklyn school on October’s “Wear Pink Day.” “In the past, we’ve always just had the staff wear pink,” said Chapter Leader Tiffany Roy. “But this year, we decided to make it a spirit day for students, because not only staff is impacted” by breast cancer. “Everybody knows someone who is currently dealing with the disease.”
All across the city on Oct. 14, UFT members donned pink shirts, pants, shoes and assorted flair to celebrate survivors, pay tribute to loved ones who have died from the disease and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
Roy said she became aware of how breast cancer touches whole communities in her own high school years, when a beloved teacher was going through treatment. Roy now considers it a responsibility to educate the school community about breast cancer screening programs. She’s working with MS 581’s parent coordinator to team up with a local hospital to offer screenings because “early detection is important,” she said.
For members at PS 59 on Staten Island, breast cancer is an issue that affects everyone, said Chapter Leader Jasmine Tillery, the school’s UFT Teacher Center coach. “Many of our members have faced the battle of breast cancer in the past, and two years ago, our principal was diagnosed with breast cancer. We were left without having her here in person for almost two years.”Leigh is checking with Jasmine for the principal’s current status--so we can put she’s in recovery or whatever the case may be
For Tillery, “Wear Pink” also is a cause that’s close to home. “My mother is a four-year survivor, and my grandmother passed away from breast cancer four years ago, so this cause means a lot to me,” she said.
Many organizers of “Wear Pink Day” and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are well aware of the fear and grief that breast cancer patients, survivors and family members carry with them every day. Betzaida Vargas, a paraprofessional representative at PS 290 in Brooklyn who lost her mother three years ago, believes that the small gesture of dressing in pink lets survivors, and family and friends, know that they’re not alone in their experience. “It brings togetherness,” she said. “It makes us stop and remember, and give thanks for those that are alive and remember those that have passed.”
