In 1991, at the age of 26, Phaedra Malatek found out she had a disease that caused endometrial, or uterine, cancer. In March 1998, at the age of 33, she was diagnosed with the cancer.

“My reaction was to get educated, to know what was going on, so that it didn’t take me, but I took it,” Malatek said.

In May of this year, after surviving cancer, Malatek graduated from NIU with a master’s in communication. She now is co-founder, president and director of communications for Women’s Cancer Awareness Group (WCAG), a grassroots organization that will sell bracelets to NIU sororities to fund cancer education efforts.

Delta Gamma is the first sorority on campus to have the bracelets, but they soon will be available to all sororities. Earrings, keychains and bookmarks will be available to sororities soon as well.

The sorority bracelets, made of sterling silver beads and Swarovski Austrian crystals, cost $32. The bracelets have sorority colors, initials and symbols, and can be customized. Additional charms cost between $3 and $6.

“We have a lot of girls in the house that have either lost someone, like a friend or a relative to cancer related diseases, and we’d just like to support as much as we can,” said Heather Schnitzler, president of Delta Gamma, and senior business management major.

All of the proceeds from the sale of the bracelets go to fund cancer education efforts by the WCAG, which is dedicated to education about breast, ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers.

“I know the bracelets have the sorority colors and the sorority charms … the reason that we’re out to sell these bracelets is not to promote Greeks,” said Amanda Cavazos, WCAG Account Executive, junior visual communication major and Northern Star assistant production manager. “We’re out because we’re trying to educate everyone about cancer.”

Schnitzler ordered one of the bracelets herself, and estimated between 10 and 15 of her sorority sisters did the same. She said more are planning on ordering.

WCAG currently is working with other colleges sororities trying to sell the bracelets.

They also offer cancer awareness and fashion bracelets via the Internet, selected beauty salons in the western suburbs of Chicago and at educational events in which the group participates.

Cancer awareness bracelets run from $35 to $44. These bracelets can be purchased in pink representing breast cancer, teal representing ovarian cancer or lavender representing general cancer including endometrial and cervical cancers.

“The idea is that people will wear these [bracelets], and they’ll become conversation pieces,” Malatek said.

WCAG was founded in February by Malatek and fellow cancer survivor Lydia Zipp. It is a not-for-profit organization consisting of six members, which operates out of Aurora and San Francisco. WCAG seeks to spread the word about all kinds of women’s cancers.

Sororities interested in purchasing sorority bracelets, and those interested in purchasing cancer awareness or fashion bracelets, or in getting more information on women’s cancers, can visit www.wcagroup.org.