When Jude Bayasi wanted to volunteer to support the breast cancer community, he never expected his search would lead him to starting a breast cancer awareness club at Arizona State University (ASU). Inspired by his grandmother’s experience with the disease, Jude connected with Komen and launched the Breast Cancer Hope Initiative, giving fellow students a way to raise awareness, fundraise and take action on campus.

A Family Connection to Breast Cancer Inspires Action

When Jude’s grandmother was first diagnosed with breast cancer decades ago, she completed treatment, and doctors told her the cancer was gone. Years later, she began experiencing unexplained pain and fatigue. Doctors discovered her breast cancer had metastasized (spread) to her spine and eventually her brain.  

Jude watched his grandmother undergo surgeries, chemotherapy and other treatments before she died in 2023. The experience changed the way he thought about breast cancer. Eventually, it inspired him to find a way to help others facing the disease.

In the fall of 2025, Jude contacted Komen, hoping to find a way to get involved. He connected with Hannah Finnegan, development manager for Go Pink for the Cure. She gave Jude an unexpected suggestion: to start a breast cancer awareness club at ASU, where he studies biomedical sciences.

“I was open to the idea,” Jude said. “I had thought about it before, but I wasn’t sure how it would work.”

From Personal Experiene to a Breast Cancer Awareness Club

Hannah’s encouragement gave Jude the push he needed. He researched what it would take to establish a student organization at ASU. He learned about the university’s registration process, executive board requirements and other steps required to get the club off the ground.

“I was pretty strict about actually getting it done,” he said.

While Jude handled the university side of starting the club, Hannah helped him think through ways the club could raise money and engage the community.

“Hannah was really supportive throughout the whole process,” Jude said. “She gave me ideas, connected me with resources and was always willing to help brainstorm new ideas. Having support from Komen made starting a club feel a lot more doable.”

Connecting Students to the Cause

After establishing the Breast Cancer Hope Initiative, Jude and the board began looking for ways to bring students together and raise money for Komen. They partnered with Honey 2 A Bee, a coffee shop near campus, for a percentage night.

“It was something where you didn’t have to commit a lot of time,” Jude said. “You could come in, get something to eat, say hi and support the cause.”

Through that first fundraiser, Jude and the board raised $300 for Komen. Then, they began thinking of new ways to engage with the student community. The percentage night was followed by a volleyball night that included food, board games and crafts.

The club has continued experimenting with different ways to engage students, including a second percentage night, arts-and-crafts activities and campus tabling, where members sell crocheted items and pink lemonade.

After several events, Jude started to see a pattern in what brings students through the door.

“It comes down to location, date, time and promotion,” he said. He’s also learned that more events don’t necessarily mean more engagement.

“You don’t want to oversaturate people with events,” Jude said. “You want to find that sweet spot where people are excited to come to your events instead of seeing it as just another event.”

How to Start a Breast Cancer Awareness Club

Jude hopes students at other universities will take what he has learned and use it to start breast cancer awareness clubs of their own. His first piece of advice is simple: Commit to making it happen.

“If you really want to do it, you’ll get it done,” he said. “You just have to be diligent.”

Jude also recommends doing research before getting started. That includes learning how student organizations are registered, understanding leadership requirements and figuring out what resources are available on campus.

“When I first connected with Hannah, it was too late in the semester to register the club,” he said. “I didn’t let that discourage me. I recruited my executive board and had everything ready to go for the spring semester.”

Getting the club off the ground also taught Jude an important lesson about leadership: Building a strong team starts with finding people who are genuinely passionate about the cause and willing to contribute their strengths.

“Your team can make or break the club,” he said. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important it is to have a team that really cares about the cause.”

Jude also stresses that even with the right team in place, not every event will go exactly as planned. Some events will draw a crowd, while others may have a smaller turnout. His advice? Keep going.

“Fundraising something is better than nothing,” he said.

For Jude, the Breast Cancer Hope Initiative started as a way to honor his grandmother’s memory while raising money to support people facing breast cancer. As the club continues to grow, he hopes it will give even more ASU students the opportunity to make a difference.

Get Involved with Go Pink for the Cure

Go Pink for the Cure gives schools and student groups an opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support the fight against breast cancer. Whether you’re interested in starting a breast cancer awareness club, organizing a fundraiser or getting your school community involved, you can find the resources and support you need with Go Pink for the Cure. Learn more at Komen.org/GoPink.