CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Women's Swimming and Diving is set to host its Breast Cancer Awareness Meet on Friday when it opens its 2025-26 campaign vs. Brown. This marks the third consecutive season it has played host to the event and is set to get underway at 4 p.m. ET at Blodgett Pool.
 
The Crimson is bringing awareness to a pair of organizations that are dedicated to research and providing support to children affected by cancer in the ESSCO-MGH Breast Cancer Research Fund and the Harvard Chapter of Camp Kesem.
 
The ESSCO-MGH Breast Cancer Research Fund was established in Dec. 1994, by Albert Cohen, then-CEO of Electronic Space Systems Corporation (ESSCO). At that time, Cohen's 33-year-old-daughter, Lynn, had been diagnosed with breast cancer and treated at Mass General Hospital. Anna and Albert later established the ESSCO-MGH Breast Cancer Research Fund at Mass General Hospital in Boston to support novel breast cancer research that might one day lead to a cure.
 
Camp Kesem, meanwhile, is a free, week-long overnight summer camp designed for children ages 6 to 18 who are impacted by a parent's cancer. Kesem has chapters on over 120 college campuses that support children through and beyond a parent's cancer. Millions of children in the U.S. are coping with a parent's cancer diagnosis and are at an increased risk of anxiety, emotional isolation, loss of social interest, and feelings of hopelessness. Camp Kesem seeks to create a safe, fun, and empowering experience for its campers.
 
Those in attendance at the meet will have the opportunity to donate to either organization. Others can support online through https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/essco and https://donate.kesem.org/team/772439.

Harvard University Police Department is also scheduled to be on site as it is partnering with the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) through the Pink Patch Project, which is an innovative public awareness campaign to bring attention to the fight against breast cancer and to support breast cancer research organizations in combating this devastating disease. The project is a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs' Association and public safety agencies in Los Angeles County and beyond. Over the years, numerous police departments have chosen to support the Joe Andruzzi Foundation through the Pink Patch Project. The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) is committed to providing help, hope, and a reason to smile for New England cancer patients and their families by contributing financial support when it is needed most. JAF supports cancer patients of any age, any type of cancer in active treatment living in New England.
 
This year, HUPD has new, vibrant patches to show its support for this important cause. For those who would like to donate, they can do so online at https://support.joeandruzzifoundation.org/team/776403.