The pink ribbon is a symbol that encapsulates both tribulation and celebration. It tells the story of pain and suffering but also gives hope and support. The ribbon puts a face to breast cancer.

Tobi Collins, a women’s studies major from Leesburg, will wear a ribbon in dedication to her best friend’s mother on her 60 mile walk from Lake Lanier to downtown Atlanta from Friday to Sunday. She will be walking with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the largest breast cancer charity in the world.

While studying abroad in Oxford, Collins received the news from her best friend Lisa Kitchens that Kitchens’ mother had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. “It’s one of those friendships that evolved into becoming family. Her mom is like my mom,” Collins said. “I called Lisa Kitchens and we just stuck on the phone.”

Collins said the news was almost surreal. “We had moments where we were angry and then we were sad. It was almost like a Lifetime movie.” Because of chemotherapy and experimental treatments, Kitchens has been in remission since April 15.

“Her mom from the get-go decided that she was going to fight,” Collins said.

To walk for the charity, participants must form teams and raise up to $2,300 per walker. With a group of 7 members, Collins’ named her group “GoFightWin” and dedicated it to Kitchens.

“We felt like we needed to do something, and we felt like we needed to make a statement,” she said. “The three day walk will be celebrating the fact that she’s overcome this.”

Collins said that the walk will be a challenge for her but feels that walking is one of the best ways to spread awareness. “I can’t run. Running is for the coordinated and that’s not what I’ve been blessed with. Walking I can handle,” she said. “I’m not sure how 60 miles is going to work out for me, but if someone can undergo chemotherapy, I think I can walk some distance.”

After long days of walking, participants will still rally at night to keep the community active with their cause. The teams will camp in pink tents while putting on karaoke and dance contests. All the proceeds go to Breast Cancer research and to spread awareness.

According to the American Cancer Society, 184,450 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and 40,930 patients passed away from the disease. Collins states that these numbers can decrease drastically if people begin taking precautions early on.

“A lot of people associate cancer with women over 40 because that’s when you’re supposed to get mammograms, but breast cancer can occur in college age women and college age men. [Breast cancer] has no age,” Collins said. “I think a lot of people don’t know quite how to do [a self examination], but its important people look up how to do this or find out through your doctor.”

Even though October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Collins advocates awareness everyday of the year. “It’s not just about having the one month where people are walking, and running, and wearing pink ribbons. It’s about being compassionate and caring to people who are affected by this cancer,” she said. “If you know somebody that’s affected by breast cancer, it really goes a long way to ask how their doing.”