October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the people of Lincoln County are doing their part to spread the message.

King’s Daughters Medical Clinic will hold its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon on Oct. 1. King Daughters Foundation Director Johnny Rainer said they’ve already given away all of their tickets, more than 200, for free.

Maggie Cupit of Brookhaven is currently attending medical school at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Her goal is “to treat kids with cancer.” She had her own battle with a pediatric cancer at 19 and wrote a book about her experiences titled “Why, God?: Suffering through Cancer into Faith.” Cupit will return to Brookhaven to speak at the luncheon.

“Brookhaven has always been super supportive of me when I was sick, and now with all that I’m doing to help fight cancer,” said Cupit. “So I’m really grateful that they reached out to me, and I’m really excited to be at the event.”

This annual event generally focuses on breast cancer awareness, but Rainer said Cupit will also bring her knowledge of pediatric cancer to the talk. Rainer and Cupit both stress the importance of awareness.

“Breast cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women,” Rainer said. “A woman’s chance of surviving breast cancer is greatly improved with early detection and treatment.”

“When it comes to cancer in general awareness is really important,” Cupit said. “Most of us have been affected by cancer in one way or another. If we haven’t had it, or had family members who’ve had it, we’ve known someone who’s had it. The more that we are aware of what cancer does to a person, the more we can help a person who is going through it.”

Educational material about breast health and exams will also be given out at the event.

Afterwards, on Oct. 3 at the Ole Brook Festival, MSGirls4acure will host a 5K walk/run.

According to member Olivia Wallace, MSGirls4acure started seven years ago with two sisters: breast cancer survivors Margarette Roberson and Zelline LaFleur. The group holds the annual race to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Registration will start at 7 a.m. Following registration will be a dance party and warm-ups. The race will start at 8 a.m.