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Nome’s local Girl Scout Troop is taking on a global health project to support breast cancer awareness and education. This weekend, the group of nine middle school girls are hosting a walk and fun run in Nome. But the event is just the first step in the troop’s journey.
During a fall meeting for Girl Scout Troop #354, one scout shared that a family member was recovering from a battle with breast cancer.
“They all were so silent when I was like, ‘No, this doesn't exist everywhere, all over the world,’” the troop's leader, Sophia Pantelis said.
Pantelis explained the benefits of early detection through mammograms to the girls, and how that technology isn’t always available to women who need it.
“I said, ‘These machines aren't always available to everybody, or this type of prevention, or even talking about the prevention. We've come a long way, here. But that’s not always everywhere.’ It was very eye opening for them,” she said.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on the girls. They took the conversation home and had talks on how the disease had touched their own friends and loved ones.
“They realize, after having this conversation at home, with their families, that every single girl has had someone affected by breast cancer in their family, if it was someone in the immediate nuclear family, or someone that was like, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin, a friend of the family,” said Pantelis.
The troop wondered if there was something they could do to help.
“And so they said, ‘Well, where can we go? What could we do?’” Pantelis said.
The troop decided to make breast cancer awareness their focus for the Girl Scout Global Action award, an initiative that encourages scouts to address issues affecting women worldwide like poverty, equality, or access to healthcare.
Starting the journey
The Nome girls plan to support breast cancer awareness and education in Kenya or Tanzania, an area in east Africa with growing breast cancer rates and limited access to early detection.
To raise funds, the troop is planning an awareness walk in Nome on Saturday. Registration fees, merchandise sales and donations will support breast cancer research. A portion will also be set aside for an upcoming trip to Africa.
Pantelis says the girls can hardly contain their excitement. The troop designed custom posters.
“And they were even just stopping people in the supermarket, handing them out, being like, ‘Hey, come come to my walk, we have a walk, come to my walk,’” Pantelis said.
The troop hopes to travel to Africa in 2027, giving them some time to reach their funding goal. But for now, their efforts are spreading awareness and health education in their home community, too.
The Nome Girl Scout Breast Cancer Awareness Walk / Fun Run is on Saturday, October 4th at 4pm in Nome. Meet at East End Park to walk or join the 5k if you'd like to join in supporting the girls and their cause.
