Chocolate, The cure for breast cancer

Post by Michelle Hunt

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. You can never get enough of it. I was definitely in chocolate heaven last week Friday at the NC State Women’s Center 9th Annual Chocolate Festival where I indulged in all things chocolate.

A Hersheys Kiss

Chocolate Fondue

Brief History

The first chocolate festival was held in October 2004 as a fundraiser to help support the programs and services the Women’s Center offered. However, during the following year, two events changed the focus of the festival to breast cancer awareness. Jenny Chang, a NCSU alumna and former body president was battling breast cancer. Her desire was to educate young people about breast cancer and let them know that at any age one could be diagnosed with it as she was only 26 years old when she found out she had breast cancer. Just a year later, Jenny passed away. Around the same time, our Women’s Basketball Coach, Kay Yow, was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time and wanted to be a part of finding the answer to this illness. The Chocolate Festival not only gives proceeds to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Funds but also educates others by encouraging self-breast exams and mammograms because early detection saves lives.

Coach Kay Yow - Photo courtesy of ESPN

The Chocolate Festival is set-up for you to enjoy a variety of chocolate desserts while learning about early prevention. After paying the small entrance fee, each attendee is given a card that allows them to choose six items from all of the tables that are set up in the room. There are so many delicious options that it is hard to narrow down to just six, so it is important to choose wisely. Dessert options include chocolate fondue fountains, chocolate fudge, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate cookies, gelato ice cream, and any other chocolate item imaginable.

Delicious Chocolate Desserts

A Delicious Chocolate Cake

Indulging in chocolate is not the only thing visitors can do while at the festival. A silent auction was also set up for people to bid on clothing items, gift baskets and food certificates. In addition, attendees were provided with information concerning the prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer from the help of several local resources.