Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Freedom Area High School's Student Newspaper

FHS Press

Seeing pink: Freedom raises cancer awareness

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Brianna Frashure/FHS Press
The cheerleaders wear pink shirts and use pink pom-poms to support breast cancer.

It’s that time of the year: Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There is pink everywhere and people all around are supporting those who have battled or are battling with breast cancer by wearing the color pink. Breast Cancer Awareness Month has lifted the hearts of many and has helped raise a lot of money for the cause. In the small town of Freedom, a “Pink Out” game is almost traditional to take place in October.
This year, Senior Courtney Cummins hosted a “Pink Out” football game for her senior project.
“I chose [this project] because I wanted to raise money for a good cause and raise enough money to give it to a local organization for breast cancer. [I wanted] to keep it in the community. I am not done raising money, but what I have now is $1,100,” Cummins said.
At the game, supporters of breast cancer awareness and friends of Courtney filled the stadium. Throughout the week preceding the game, she sold many items, like necklaces, bracelets, bandanas and t-shirts.
The football players wrapped pink tape around their shoes and some even wore pink undershirts and socks, too. “I wore pink items with my football gear at the “Pink Out” to support Breast Cancer Awareness,” Junior Josh Battaglia said.
To show their support like the football team and fans, the cheerleaders used white and pink pom-poms and even dressed in special outfits. Each cheerleader wore a “Pink Out” shirt sold by Courtney and a simple pink bow worn in their hair. The band units also had different ways of supporting breast cancer awareness.
“We had pink ribbons in our hair, and we had pink lines painted on our faces,” Sophomore Reilly Collins said. All around the stadium, fans were cheering on the Bulldogs and showing off all the pink they were wearing at the event.
In addition to the football game, Senior Mercedes Sowinski held a “Pink Out” volleyball game for her senior project because she wanted to raise money for breast cancer awareness.
At the volleyball game, both players and coaches wore pink jerseys, bows or bandanas in their hair along with pink socks. There were posters informing bystanders about the cause the team was supporting. Raffle tickets were sold and there were prize giveaways. All profits went directly to the Breast Cancer Fund.
The girls’ soccer team also showed a small tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The team wore decorated pink bows in their hair to support the cause before one of their games.
“It meant a lot to the team and [me] to see everyone support our game and support breast cancer by wearing pink,” Sophomore Jodie Willis said. “We had a lot of people come out and support us. I think we even played a lot better.”
Cummins and Sowinski both worked hard to accomplish their “Pink Out” projects. Both were able to accomplish their goals of raising money for a cause they wanted to support.