By Emma Trapp
Round Table editor
In the United States each year, more than 40,000 women will die of breast cancer, making it the second-leading cause of death due to cancer.
Every year since 1983, the month of October has been dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. The annual organization’s goal is to help inform people about, cure and prevent breast cancer. Everyone around the world can participate and help save lives.
Middletown High School is doing its part to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The color pink is coating the school, whether it’s a shirt, hair or jewelry.
MHS jewelry and ceramics teacher Karey Mattingly has been raising money for the cause, as well as providing the school with a breast cancer fact of the day.
“Having students talk about it and research it, as well as seeing it on the morning announcements, hits more students than we actually are aware of,“ said Mattingly.
In addition to informing both students and staff, Mattingly’s jewelry class created a line of pink necklaces and bracelets to raise money.
The class donated the money to Team Hope for breast cancer research and equipment. The students raised a total of $1,000.
There are many forms of help; two of the most popular among students are Facebook posting and getting a pink strand of hair.
Facebook has been the latest fad among teenagers and now, with the constant posting of status, students can bring awareness to people of all ages, all over the world.
Last year on Facebook, women made their statuses the color of their bras. This year another message went around asking women to make their statuses, “I like it…,” and where they put their purses.
“I think the Facebook ‘I like it’ thing is a very good way to show that you care about BCAM and are aware of how to help,“ said MHS freshman Karly Hopkins.
While purses don’t have to do with breast cancer, this Facebook status helps bring breast cancer awareness to anybody on Facebook.
Although the Facebook statuses help raise awareness, people can change their statuses every day. Students and salon owner’s felt they needed to do something a little more permanent,so students have been receiving a single strand of hair from salons to participate in a fashionable and yet helpful manner. The fake hair stays in place for a month or two and all funds go to breast cancer research.
“The pink strands stand for hope and that one day maybe there will be a cure,“ said MHS junior Maggie Plunkett.
Accessorizing with pink hair, pink shirts and pink jewelry are just a few things that people can do on a daily basis to help raise awareness. Even though Breast Cancer Awareness Month has helped save lives, one in eight women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, so the fight continues.
