Cynthia O'Dell uses the quilt as her medium because it symbolizes nostalgia and comfort. By placing disturbing images of the uncomfortable subject matter on such a soft, beautiful surface, she expresses the difficulties of dealing with the disease.

This October CU-Boulder will join organizations worldwide to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The kickoff will be held in the British Studies Room of Norlin Library from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 30. All faculty and staff are invited and Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano will speak at 4:30 p.m.

Only in its second year, CU's participation has grown exponentially because of an enormous positive response from both participants and sponsors. "Everybody on campus is somehow affected by breast cancer," said Gail Siegel, director of Community Relations, "and Breast Cancer Awareness Month has taken on a life of its own."

The kickoff event will include the show opening for Common Threads, an exhibit of photographic quilts created by alumna Cynthia O'Dell. Common Threads explores the personal side of breast cancer through quilts that tell individual stories of Colorado women.

Guests may paint a ceramic plate to honor or memorialize someone with breast cancer, or to visually explore their own feelings. Plates will be fired and optionally exhibited in Norlin's Third Floor Gallery.

Pink lights will illuminate the west portico of Norlin as part of a worldwide commemoration that includes the Empire State Building in New York, Lycabettus Hill in Athens and Harbour Bridge in Sydney.

Health information tables will be featured. Refreshments will be served and a drawing will be held for a pair of pink Crocs shoes.

Other October events include participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Denver by 116 students, faculty and staff; a public talk, "Breast Cancer: It's Not Just Physical"; and a panel discussion, "What Now? Everyone Is Affected by a Breast Cancer Diagnosis." A calendar of events is available at CU-Boulder CommunityRelations.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is sponsored by Community Relations, CU Women's Resource Center, Friends of the Libraries, HealthLinks Clinic, CU Libraries, UMC Catering, Luna Bar and Wardenburg Health Center.