The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work’s Phi Alpha Honor Society organized a Cancer Awareness Walk to bring students, faculty and community members together in support of cancer survivors and those undergoing treatment on October 21, 2025.
Natasha Sutherland, president of Phi Alpha, said the idea for the walk came from her desire to help the School of Social Work build more community engagement. “A lot of the students at the School of Social Work don’t necessarily have a lot of time for activities, so we had to look at times and dates when students would be able to attend,” she said.
Sutherland said she was inspired by her experience at Midwestern State University, where students participated in an annual Colleges Against Cancer Relay for Life event. “I thought, OK, maybe we can do something similar here so we can partner with the community when it comes to support and raising awareness,” she said.
Participants take part in the “Steps for Hope Cancer Awareness Walk” hosted by the Phi Alpha Honor Society. (Photo by Thomas Johns)
The walk began on the School of Social Work grounds and followed a route through campus. The route, which snaked along Mitchell Street, Cooper Street, across UTA Boulevard and down Spaniolo Drive allowed participants to show off their shirts to passing traffic and other students.
The event, themed “Steps of Hope: Moving Forward Together,” included was illustrated with vibrant pink T-shirts that unified the participants. “The unifying shirts showed that participants were part of a movement that is there, that there’s hope.”
Sutherland said the goal of the event was to let those diagnosed with cancer know they were not alone. “We want to let those diagnosed with cancer that they don't have to go through it by themselves,” she said. “There are people out there who want to support them, that we are here as a community, especially within the School of Social Work.”
The walk took place during the lunch hour from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. to allow for maximum participation.
Sutherland emphasized the importance of physically showing support for those affected by cancer. “Having a walk like this brings awareness to those experiencing a diagnosis that can affect anyone,” she said. “These are people just like us. They're students just like us every day coming to school. They’re members of your community. This walk shows that their peers care for them and stand with them.”
She added that presence could often mean more than words. “Just having somebody to physically stand with you makes a difference and it shows that you really care,” she said. “Sometimes that's what a lot of people may need, just to see that someone to be present and cares.”
Phi Alpha opened the event to students beyond the School of Social Work. “It’s not just open to the School of Social Work,” Sutherland said. “It’s open to the entire UTA campus because it affects all of us.”
Natasha Sutherland, president of Phi Alpha Honor Society, speaks with participants after the “Steps of Hope Cancer Awareness Walk”. (Photo by Thomas Johns)
The event also provided opportunities for students to connect with each other and build community. “This is an opportunity for us to interact with each other, get to know other people, network and just generally meet with our staff and faculty,” Sutherland said. “It's about building community and practicing some of the things that we will be doing in the community.”
For Sutherland, the Cancer Awareness Walk represented what social work was all about. “We are social workers,” she said. “One of our competencies is advocacy, and this is a form of advocacy through education, making people aware of what is happening and how they can support others.”