Delta Phi Omega hosts breast cancer event: Three speakers detail their experiences with breast cancer

The Delta Phi Omega sorority held their annual Breast Cancer Benefit this past Sunday, November 11 in alignment with the sorority’s philanthropy of breast cancer research and support. The event included a brunch, a silent auction, and speeches from three women who have experienced breast cancer in their lives in some capacity—Barbara Hensley, Michele Rusinko, and Megan Ruble.

One of the speakers, Barbara Hensley, is the Founder Visionary of the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation. She started this organization after losing her two sisters to breast cancer and witnessing firsthand the financial burdens that breast cancer patients and their families face. Half of the money raised from this event will go towards Hensley’s Hope Chest Foundation, and half will be supporting the Angels of Breast Cancer charity, both of which are Minnesota-based organizations that support women currently undergoing breast cancer treatment.

“The benefit is an important event because it raises money for breast cancer research and helping women with breast cancer.” 

-Darby Hurlbert

The Deltas host this event every year and find it important to support breast cancer patients and their families by helping to cover the many expenses that can come with this illness. Senior Callie Benge says that she “absolutely loves the Deltas,” and that their “dedication every year to fighting breast cancer is inspiring.” Members of the sorority planned the event and promoted it throughout campus. They were also involved in donating the items that were bid on in the silent auction. “I [tabled] for the event as well as [donated] a basket to be auctioned off along with the other members of the Delta Phi Omega sorority,” Hurlbert said. 

Entertainment was provided by Gustavus Women’s A Cappella, the only all-women’s a cappella group on campus. Its mission is to empower and encourage female leadership within the music industry, and to perform arrangements of songs by primarily female artists. This mission of empowering women and spreading hope and joy through music made them the perfect group to perform for the entertainment hour at this year’s Breast Cancer Benefit. 

This event raised funds for the necessary research and support for breast cancer patients and their families. “The benefit went so well. Everything was set up beautifully and there [were] amazing speakers…I highly suggest that anyone who gets the chance to attend in future years take that chance because it is so much fun and exciting knowing that we are helping make a difference,” Hurlbert said.