UMd. Fraternity Raises More Than $27,000 for Breast Cancer Research

Two years ago on Good Friday, Peggy Waterworth was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram.

Over the next month, she felt alone.

"It's really scary when you're laying there at night, looking up at the ceiling," she said. Every thought possible went through her mind.

But a lumpectomy removed the cancer a month later, and today, the 52-year-old Forestville resident is healthy.

And she’s hopeful that there will be an end to breast cancer. Thursday, she gave a speech from the porch of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity in College Park, encouraging a crowd of students with that very mission.

Among the crowd was her son, Greg Waterworth, a junior at the University of Maryland and a main organizer for the third Kappa Alpha Order Breastfest of Champions, which included food and raffle prizes.

He proudly announced from the porch that through donations and sponsorship, the fraternity had raised more than $27,000 for breast cancer research.

"I'm really pleased that he's as passionate as he is," his mother said.

All the money supports the Hearts for Cancer, which funds breast cancer research. A former Kappa Alpha Order president was a main catalyst in creating the organization, Greg Waterworth said.

Fraternity brothers said they expect more donations over the next two weeks, hoping to be the biggest philanthropic event on campus.

"This year we tried to blow it out of the water," organizer Chris O'Brien said.