For Abby Bange, a 28-year-old nutrition and health psychology graduate student at Seattle’s Bastyr University, volunteering for Mamafest combined several of her passions – women’s causes, health and snowboarding. Three years ago, Bange was working for a snowboard clothing company that wanted to explore women’s wear. “I did some research and came across this group of women. I knew I wanted to help out right away,” she says. Although the devastating effects of breast cancer haven’t personally affected Bange, she considered the startling statistics to be incentive enough to support this cause. “Why wait for it to affect me? I would rather help raise awareness now,” she emphatically added.

As a first time volunteer, Bange has helped the organization in several capacities, including helping to direct competitors at the base of the half-pipe at the annual snowboarding event (open to skiers and snowboarders) and soliciting donations for “thank you” gifts for the numerous bands who donated their time, not to mention talent, at the same event. Musical entertainment is a big part of the daylong event, and although many big-name local bands take to the stage to rouse enthusiasm for the participants, everyone seems to get into the spirit of having fun. Bange, infectiously enthusiastic about her service for Mamafest, says, “The best part of being part of this organization is the people you get to work with and the breast cancer survivors that you meet. They remind you what the event is all about.”