Breast cancer pins pointing out generosity of Davis community

By DAVID LACY
Enterprise Staff Writer
(Published March 19, 1999)

 

Believe it or not, a small, pink, crystal-studded pin could make a difference in someone's life.

 

According to Marilyn Gayler Axelrod of Davis, the pins, crafted in the unmistakable ribbon shape of the breast cancer insignia, can be given as gifts to breast cancer survivors and those who are still battling the disease. 

 

As the founder of the Wall of Hope, a local foundation aimed at raising awareness and understanding of breast cancer, Axelrod hopes to have more than 200 of the pink pins made by the end of March.

 

She and several other organizations will then take the pins to Los Angeles and sell them at nine various Nordstrom locations. 

 

"It's a beautiful pin," she marveled. "They're so sparkly."

 

So far, more than 100 pins are ready for sale, thanks to the help of five Davis High School students who have volunteered several hours of their time. While much of the pin is designed and made in the factory before being shipped to Davis, part of every pin still must be carefully hand-sewn. 

 

Melina Nevarez, Karisa Contreras, Beth Walker, Emilie Cameron, and Carolyn Pincus, all Davis High School juniors, have each finished about 10 pins under Axelrod's direction. The five girls are all members of the Key Club — a group that requires a certain amount of community service.

 

Cameron chose to undertake this particular project for personal reasons. The mother of a friend of hers died of breast cancer a few years ago, and she felt this would be the perfect opportunity to help raise awareness about the disease. 

 

Cameron was also responsible for recruiting her friends in this project.

 

"I thought it would be a good idea to help," Nevarez said. "It's really beneficial for breast cancer."

 

Each of the pins has the Wall of Hope's phone number printed on the underside. It is placed in a tiny zip-locked bag and then gift-wrapped.

 

The Wall of Hope's trademark project has been a 150-foot-long wall that displays panels of photos of breast cancer survivors. The wall also will be taken to Southern California, where it will be displayed inside the Topanga Plaza Mall.

 

Axelrod said she started the Wall of Hope for personal reasons.

 

"It's the most worthwhile thing I could do with my life as a breast cancer survivor, the daughter of a breast cancer survivor and as the mother of a 22-year-old girl," she said.

 

Axelrod reminds people that the disease strikes all ages and that one in eight women will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime.

 

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