Giving breast cancer the boot

The gym is a sea of pink– everyone is dressed in pink shirts and glittering pink makeup. Pink pom poms fly through the air, and every band uniform has a pink ribbon pinned to their shoulder. Breast cancer survivors and their families stand and smile at the community cheering before them.

Texas High held its annual ‘pink-out’ pep-rally in support of the fight against breast cancer on Oct. 20. Survivors were invited to attend to see the school’s encouragement.

Many coaches and leaders within the school encouraged students to get involved with showing solidarity with cancer survivors and aiding in the funding of prevention. Students were encouraged to participate in the Race for the Cure where Highsteppers and other organizations would be cheering. The Tiger Marching Band wore pink ribbons during each of their performances, and many students donned pink bandannas in the stands.

“We hope to reach and impact everyone,” drill team director Amber Reynolds said. “If someone researches how to support breast cancer simply because they saw pink hat bands or poms at a football game, then we’ll be happy. I think it’s important for students involved in any or all activities to get behind a cause that’s personal to them. It helps you grow as an individual and may introduce you to some peers that you didn’t realize were involved with the same cause.”

Reynolds continues to share what showing unity means for her team.

“It’s important for me to teach the team that there is a bigger world outside of high school and drill team,” Reynolds said. “I try to encourage many opportunities to get them involved with the community.

Students and teachers alike banded together to help draw more attention to the effects of breast cancer on the student body.

“One of my very close family-friends has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” sophomore Hayli Hamilton said. “To see the school recognize and support her and others means so much to me and to my friend.”

“I hope that students realize these are real people just like them that are affected by cancer,” principal Brad Bailey said. “By understanding how they could help others a little more and show more compassion will help them be a better student, friend and person. As a school, we want to instill the value of respecting and encouraging those who have went on this journey. Many of us have family members, teachers or friends who have had to fight cancer, and I believe it is important to recognize them for the courageous battle to overcome the disease.”

To show their unity with those afflicted, many students are participating in the pep rally dedicated to survivors.

“Having events such as ‘pink-out day’ brings this disease out front so everyone can get a better understanding of how they can help others and join in the fight against all cancer,” Bailey said. “This also creates a unity among our students, staff and community that we are all supporting each other.”