Students raise awareness with bar crawl

Students raise awareness with bar crawl

by Stacey MagnesonStaff Writer

A bar crawl to help support breast cancer research hosted by Simpson students will be held on Oct. 5, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event, titled “For the Love of Breasts,” includes five Indianola bars- The Zoo, Signatures, The Irishman Pub, The Garage and MoJo’s.

Participants may pick up a $5 wristband at Signatures. The wristband qualifies bar crawl participants to receive drink specials including $1.50 wells and draws at The Garage as well as $1 shots and $3 Kansas City Ice Waters at MoJo’s.

Tips won’t be going to bartenders, but will be donated to The National Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The bar that raises the most money will have their name mentioned on a framed picture sent to the Foundation.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.

Seniors Christine Stearns and Beth Hansen, event coordinators, are holding Friday’s event because they want to help lower the number of people who are affected by raising money to donate to further research.

“We want people to have fun and donate to a good cause,” Hansen said. “We hope people will really get involved and see that it’s not about getting drunk, but more about taking Simpson students that are of legal age and having them celebrate Homecoming and give to a good cause along the way. There also aren’t many major events in October and this will give more light to young people that they do need to get checked.”

Another reason for the event’s timing is the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The next day is also the annual breast cancer walk in Des Moines.

While Simpson chose to not be involved since the event is alcohol-related, Hansen reassures that there will be police at Signatures carding people making sure that everyone is of age.

Senior Jessica Ellingson wants to participate to show her support and by having fun while doing so.

“It is hard for people our age to devote any free time since school and organizations take up a ton of time,” Ellingson said. “These girls were creative in finding a pastime most college students enjoy doing and making time for and using it to the advantage of breast cancer research. I can’t think of many people who wouldn’t be willing to have a drink or two for a good cause or no cause at all.”

While Stearns and Hansen realize that not all students will be able to attend, they encourage anyone to give free-will donations or just simply show their support.

“Participants can stay for a half hour, an hour or as long as they want,” Stearns said. “We just want as much support as we can get.”

Stearns’ hope is that Friday’s event is received well and can continue in the future.

“This could be an event that students remember after college and we hope is carried out year after year,” Stearns said. “We want as much support as we can get, and by having it Friday night students can celebrate Homecoming with a bang!”