NMSU’s Zeta Tau Alpha is thinking pink in honor of their philanthropy Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.

The sorority kicked off their annual Think Pink week on Monday, October 17 through Sunday, October 23, in hopes to raise money for this cause.

“We want the whole Las Cruces community to be involved,” Jazmin Stack said, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. “We don’t want it to just be an NMSU thing.”

According to the Susan G. Komen foundation, the year 2016 is estimated to have 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer among women in the United States.

These statistics hit close to home for Stack.

“Breast Cancer affects everyone,” Stack said. “For me its affected my family completely, my grandmother and mother both have had breast cancer, which increases my chances of getting breast cancer.”

Stack expressed her beliefs on the importance of staying safe and wants people to be educated on being aware of their body to catch early signs of Breast Cancer, which increases chances of survival.

Zeta Tau Alpha foundation evenly distributes to the foundations national sponsors: American Cancer Society, National Football League and Bright Pink—an educational workshop.

“Together with these partners, we can expand our impact further than it has ever gone before,” the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation said. “The fight against breast cancer is more than a ribbon. It’s survivor recognition, education and awareness.”

Members of the sorority began passing out pink ribbons on Monday to spread awareness throughout the campus. Z-T-A collegiate and alumna chapters hold over 500 events across the nation to raise funds and increase awareness.

A different fundraiser was held each day of the week by NMSU’s Z-T-A sorority. This year’s events included: kiss away cancer tabling, penny wars, drink pink, a give-back night at Texas Roadhouse, a field day where teams got to participate in games, and a 5k run called Pink Up the Pace.

The sorority raised over 2500 dollars combined within all these events and all proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.

NMSU hosted the Aggie Think Pink football game on October 22, against Georgia Southern University. The goal of the pink game is to cover the whole stadium in as much pink as possible.

Before the game, members of the sorority passed out over 1500 pink ribbons to attendees.

During half-time Z-T-A members helped present the biggest pink ribbon in the country on the football field.

“Pinning a ribbon is just the beginning. Now, our fight against breast cancer is more than a ribbon. It’s our mission. It’s hope for our future. It’s every one of us, and we’re counting on you to continue the fight,” the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation said.