From Sept. 22-26, the Brighton High School Leadership class executed a possible record-breaking Pink Week in hopes of topping last year’s high of $85,000 in donations. From hosting events at the high school to decorating downtown and reaching out to over 200 businesses inside and outside of Brighton, the Leadership team engaged in countless activities to raise money for breast cancer treatment and prevention at Trinity Health Medical Center in Brighton, Michigan.
Mrs. Kelly Armstrong, the Leadership teacher at BHS, has helped put together four Pink Weeks, including this year, and has gained quite a bit of knowledge along the way, allowing her to communicate past committee ideas and information to her students.
However, it is the students themselves who organize and create the memorable week. From running fundraisers at lunchtime to honoring cancer survivors at the “Pink Out” football game on Friday, Sept. 26, Leadership students played an active role in facilitating the process and pushing themselves to expand their impact.
See more: A win for a cure: Pink out football game concludes Pink Week fundraiser
Despite the fundraiser being called “Pink Week” in honor of the pink ribbon that symbolizes breast cancer, the Leadership team worked toward raising awareness for more than just breast cancer this year.
“This year, we wanted to focus on including other types of cancer, as we recognize that no battle is the same, so we made different colored ribbons for the survivors to pin on themselves during the survivor walk to represent what cancer they battled,” senior Ella Persyn, who has been a part of Leadership for two years, said.
Leadership’s decision reflects the diversity and reach of cancer in society. Many people have a different stories about their battles with cancer, whether they have personally experienced it or witnessed a friend or family member fight it.
“Pink Week means a lot to me because my mom had breast cancer when I was young,” senior Brandon Lovejoy said. “Although I didn’t fully understand what was going on, I look back at it now, and it was truly scary.”
Although Brighton highlights only one week, the celebration of breast cancer awareness continues through the month of October. Outside of the Pink Week events such as the 5k Pink Run, Brighton Idol, the high school’s Powderpuff game and the efforts of restaurants and businesses in the community to donate some of their proceeds to the cause, Brighton’s Trinity Health Cancer Center and other oncology centers work year-round to raise money and awareness.
