139 PURPLE POWER AGAINST VIOLENCE, PINK POWER AGAINST CANCER

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 3, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Terri Johnson or Mary Ann Giuliano, 615-898-2193

PURPLE POWER AGAINST VIOLENCE, PINK POWER AGAINST CANCER
MTSU’s June Anderson Women’s Center Shows Its True Fall Colors

(MURFREESBORO) – The June Anderson Women’s Center at MTSU is distributing purple ribbons suitable for wearing in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are nearly 5.3 million incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and 3.2 million incidents against men each year in the United States. In 2003, the last year for which CDC figures are available, IPV results in nearly two million injuries and 1,300 deaths nationwide annually.
“The numbers are alarming and the violence continues to spread across the United States,” says Terri Johnson, director of the Women’s Center. “The effects of violence on the country and various communities are heartbreaking. It is so important to break the cycle of violence, build networks, develop community outreach programs and services and provide resources. It is also crucial to establish a quicker response and provide support before the violence occurs.”
Since October also is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the center is making available pink ribbons to promote the need for early detection and more research.
The American Cancer Society reports that breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women after lung cancer. The odds of a woman having invasive breast cancer at some point in her life is about one in eight, and the chance of a woman dying from breast cancer is about one in 35.
“Being a woman is the major risk factor for breast cancer,” Johnson says. “It is crucial to have early detection and screening to lower your risks. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your doctor, and be aware of new research that is going on with breast cancer. Stay healthy and active and know the risk factors that are involved.”
For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, contact the Women’s Center at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu.


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