By Dylan Peyton,
Staff Writer.
During the month of October, pink can be found all throughout your day: on ribbons, shirts and bows. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer “is the most common cancer in women in the United States.” About one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and commonly only find out in the later stages. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created to promote regular screenings for women, raise money for research, celebrate the survivors and mourn those who lost their lives to cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month wasn’t always a full month. The event started as a week-long awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, eventually growing into a month-long event. The pink ribbon that represents breast cancer only came to be in 1992 when Self Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Alexandra Penney, partnered with Evelyn Lauder, Estée Lauder’s senior corporate vice president and a breast cancer survivor. After the release of the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue, the both of them started handing out pink ribbons.
While organizations host walks for cancer and other promotional events, Santa Rosa High shows their support for the month by having “Pink Out”-themed sports events. At the games, the people in attendance are told to wear as much pink as possible. On Sept. 19, the SRHS annual “Pink Out” football game was held and the stands did not disappoint. Pink consumed the student section and the cheerleaders matched them with pink bows in their hair. “I think it definitely helps raise awareness for breast cancer and I think that it’s definitely nice that we have the ‘Pink Out’ theme,” said junior cheerleader Lily Morgan. Morgan also provides a great idea of how our school can help raise money for breast cancer: “Maybe a percentage of the profits made at the ‘Pink Out’ football games could go to a fundraiser for breast cancer.”
You don’t always know who is being affected by breast cancer, whether someone is suffering from it or their loved one has it. While the month is dedicated to raising awareness for screenings for women, it also exists to acknowledge survivors and people who helped loved ones through hard times or had a loved one pass from cancer. If you know someone going through a hard time because of breast cancer or any other cancer, always try and be there to offer support, especially emotional support. Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues to raise awareness across the nation.
