LEXINGTON, Ky. — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Colors of Promise held its biggest event of the year to raise awareness about breast cancer, specifically delivering that message to Black women.

What You Need To Know

  • Colors of Promise held its “Pink the Pews” event, which is the nonprofit’s biggest event of the year

  • Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church took part in the event. There was a table set up with information about breast cancer and Nicole Seals, who is a breast cancer survivor, shared her story

  • Colors of Promise is an organization that raises awareness about breast cancer and targets its outreach to women of color

  • Breast cancer mortality is about 40% higher among Black women compared to white women in the U.S.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and despite similar screening rates to white women, breast cancer is detected at an advanced stage more often in Black women. This has contributed to a 40% higher mortality rate for African American women compared to white women.

Trish White, Colors of Promise’s treasurer, helped to organize the nonprofit’s ‘Pink the Pews’ event at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

“Having the ‘Pink the Pews’ and having a survivor come forward, that encourages someone,” said White. “Someone might be out there that might have noticed something and not gone to the doctor and having that survivor story will help them make that decision to go and see a doctor.”

Tables with information about the organization and breast cancer were set up in the church.

Nicole Seals, a breast cancer survivor, shared her story with fellow churchgoers.

“I just want to just spread that word and be able to share my story to maybe to see if it impacted at least one or two people, and I believe it did,” said Seals.

Colors of Promise has a website with information on how to get involved, ways to donate, and resources.

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