It's a sweet event for a devastating disease.
IUP's Communications Disorders, Special Education and Disability Services Department will offer its eighth annual Confections for a Cause on September 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of IUP's Davis Hall.
The event raises funds for ovarian cancer education and research. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.
More than $9,000 has been raised during the last seven years of the event, with the event in 2017 raising a record-high $1,610.
Confections for a Cause features hundreds of baked goods and sweets of all types, from pies to chocolates, all made or donated by members of the university community. Persons may fill a small container for a $5 suggested donation or a large container for an $8 suggested donation.
All funds raised go to the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Inc. based in Havertown.
The event got its start because members of the department, including Shari Robertson and Celia Barber, wanted to honor Vickie Johnson, administrative assistant in the department, who had lost family members to ovarian cancer.
“This is not just a bake sale,” Robertson said. “This is about community, a community that comes out each year not only to support Vickie, but to support this cause. It continues to be successful because people not only care about Vickie and her loss, but about others who will also lose loved ones to this terrible disease. Ovarian cancer is under-studied, and there are very few events such as this to raise funds.
“We are hoping that this year brings our overall totals raised to more than $10,000,” Robertson said. “We continue to be so grateful that the IUP community cares enough to come together to help support this cause.”
In addition to individual students and faculty, a number of student groups help with the project every year.