MCN Holds 16th Annual Pink Party, Brings Awareness to Breast Cancer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2018
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Holds 16th Annual Pink Party, Brings Awareness to Breast Cancer
GLENPOOL, Okla. – The 16th Annual Muscogee (Creek) Nation Pink Party was held at the Glenpool Convention Center Oct. 30 to bring awareness to breast cancer while honoring those who have lost their battle and sharing the stories of survival.
Every October, as part of the national recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the MCN Department of Health partners with other tribal departments invite survivors and keynote speakers to share their stories and knowledge of breast cancer and informative booths set up as part of the Health Fair.
MCN Principal Chief James R. Floyd and Second Chief Louis Hicks were among the Nation’s dignitaries and citizens joined together to recognize those who have been impacted by breast cancer in all capacities and discuss the latest treatment and prevention.
Floyd expressed to the nearly 600 in attendance the importance of the ceremony and the significant impact it has on the Nation.
“It’s a day that we should celebrate because we are all survivors as you know,” Floyd said. “We’ve all gone through a lot, whether we’ve had cancer ourselves or had family members who’ve survived and those who didn’t. We should honor and respect them and be happy for them because they are in our lives. It’s a day to celebrate for them.”
Attendees also enjoyed lunch, door prizes, Mvskoke hymns by Native Praise and the success story from Muscogee (Creek) citizen and breast cancer survivor, Georgia Harjo.
Harjo shared her story and thanked the MCN healthcare system for the medical care she received throughout her battle.
Harjo was later presented with a Pendleton from Floyd and Hicks on behalf of the Nation.
The keynote speaker was, Laurie Flynn, the surgical director of Let’s M. Chapman Breast Center at the Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center. She discussed the risk factors and statistics associated with the cancer.
According to a statistic Flynn shared from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, “One in eight women will develop invalid breast danger during her lifetime.”
“I want to give you some information that you can take back with you to empower yourselves and empower your family,” Flynn said. “Today, I am going to provide you with information that can be encouraging and that we can all use together.”
Flynn discussed measures women can take to reduce their risk of breast cancer by modifying day-to-day activities such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol consumption and animal fat in the diet.
Flynn said the number one risk factor is being a woman followed by aging, which also increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
This year’s event also presented a video compilation of the popular “Cupid’s Shuffle” song and dance performed by the staff from the MCN National Council, Executive Branch, DOH clinics and hospitals throughout the Nation’s jurisdiction.
The ceremony closed with songs from Native Praise and a closing prayer from Ashley Pendley of Crosstown Church.
For information on the medical services MCN DOH provides, visit www.CreekHealth.org.
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