Breast cancer has touched the lives of many students and teachers alike. Based on a survey of 50 students, breast cancer has affected the lives of 82 percent of them. Fifty percent have a family member who has had breast cancer, and 86 percent know a friend or an adult in their community who has battled breast cancer.

Students take this time during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to reflect on their experiences with friends who have breast cancer. Courtney Cash, freshman, has a friend whose mother has breast cancer. “She’s still trying to adjust to all of it and it’s hard for the whole family, and so I saw it really does affect people,” Cash said.  “People think, ‘Oh, it’s just breast cancer,’ but it’s more than that. People go through tough times.  It’s stressful for everyone in the family.”

Students have come together this month to raise awareness. The football and girls swim teams have taken a strong initiative in the cause.

Students wore pink to the Oak Park and River Forest football game, both in the crowd and on the field. “I’m on the football team, so I noticed that a lot of the guys wore pink for the game. We had ribbons on our helmets, and some guys were wearing pink socks or shoelaces,” said Jimmy Thomson, sophomore.

Girls swimming has taken a similar approach with attire. All schools in the West Suburban Conference will wear the same breast cancer-themed swim cap for the month of October. The only difference among the swim caps is the school name on the side.

With each cap girls swim coach Robert Barber purchased, the company donated 50 cents to Breaststroke for Life. “We had the option of t-shirts or swim caps, but since this was the first year we just got swim caps to see how it would go,” Barber said.

As October continues, Central keeps the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month alive.

Juniors and seniors also rallied together for the Powderpuff football game, and girls volleyball players prepare for their annual event in honor of those battling breast cancer.