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Durham Kappas Partner With Local Organizations For Breast Cancer Awareness Event

Iyanii Mckinny

DURHAM, NC – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

With October being the month that the importance of breast cancer research, testing, and treatment is emphasized, there are a lot of fundraising events and drives happening in the RDU area. One of the drives is called “Cozy for the Cure Supply Drive” – a drive dedicated to giving patients cozy items for this upcoming season. The organizers of the event and their families have been impacted by breast cancer, which gave them the motivation to bring awareness to the community about breast cancer.  

breast
Shaw

Organizer Devyn Shaw is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina.  An alumna of North Carolina Central University, Shaw earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health in 2014. She also has obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Shaw has made a lifetime commitment to spreading awareness to people about breast cancer. Shaw has another fundraising event titled “ In her Strength” which started in 2016, with the purpose of providing emotional support for African American women that are going through cancer, providing financial donations, educational awareness, etc. In 2019, Shaw and her long-time friend Ryan Fairly collaborated to make ” Cozy for the Cure “ a well-established fundraiser around the area.

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Fairley

Ryan Fairely is a native of a small town called Wagram, North Carolina. Just like Shaw, Fairley is an alumnus of North Carolina Central University, earning his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2014. He has also obtained a master’s degree in nonprofit management leadership. A 2017 initiate of the Durham Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Fairly currently serves a the Social Action Chairman for the chapter.

The Durham Kappas’ Social Action Committee has partnered with The Durham Silhouettes, In Her Strength, The Nu Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, The Bull City Sigmas, and The S.M.A.C. Movement this month for “Cozy for the Cure Supply Drive.”

The Cozy for the Cure Supply Drive will take place this Sunday, October 10, 2021, at the Kappas of Durham Foundation Community Center, located at 3917 Fayetteville Street, from 2:30 pm -4:30 pm. If you cannot make it on October 10, donations will be accepted until October 29.

Items that can be donated include:
  • Blankets
  • Port Pillows
  • Wig Caps
  • Chemo Caps
  • Sleep Turbans or Scarves
  • Head Turbans
  • Socks
  • Baseball Caps

All items will be sent to the Alight Foundation and Duke Cancer Institute in Durham.

For more information about this event and other upcoming events, please contact Ryan Fairley at rfairleylcv@gmail.com or Devyn Shaw at inh3rstrength@gmail.com.