In late October, students at A.E. Peacock school raised $1,700 dollars for the Pink October cause and donated the money to the Cancer Society of Canada.
The volleyball and football teams participated and dressed in pink during their games in support of the cause.
“We just ordered ourselves a set of pink socks and got some pink tape and started promoting the game,” said Bert Redstone, head coach of the football team. “For the last several years we have given $500 every year to the Cancer Society.”
“Let’s raise a few $100 … ,” said Krysta Caplette, science teacher and gym instructor. She thinks sports not only helps build interpersonal skills but is also a way of giving something back to the community, especially to people who have cancer.
Caplette’s sister is battling cancer, which makes this cause very personal to her. She also said it was worth the effort to hold this fundraiser, after seeing all the fans, parents, and junior and senior boys and girls working together to make this pink night happen.
“I never imagined getting over $1,000,” she said.
Peacock’s educational assistant Mark Gilliland said, “The businesses of Moose Jaw are really great in stepping up and donating prizes to support the (teams) efforts to make some money for breast cancer awareness month.”
These businesses donated many prizes as prizes for the ticket draw.
“We had probably 30 businesses or more that stepped up and donated prizes.” He also said he himself got involved and donated a canoe and kayak package, since he is part of Moose Jaw Canoe and kayak Club. This will be delivered next spring because of the weather. Gilliland stated, men can get breast cancer as well, so it is very much an awareness campaign as much as fundraising.
“I have known people that have had cancer and I know it takes a hard toll on them and have seen stories and stuff like that,” said Owen Varjassy, running back and receiver of the Peacocks football team.
Varjassy said he loved to see the community coming together and donating money for breast cancer causes, which will in turn be donated to the Cancer Society. He also said the whole team wore pink socks.
“It makes me feel happy because my grandma had breast cancer and it just shows that people do care and will support causes that need support,” said Devlynn Mcclung, a member of the volleyball team.
“To be able to say that I helped raise that much money just from playing volleyball makes me feel really good about myself and I feel proud we could do that as a team,” said another member of the team, Nicole Gray.
“My great-grandma died of cancer and my grandma also had a different type of cancer, but she survived it, which is why it is important for me to cooperate and raise funds for research about cancer,” said Katana Geiger SLC Student Leadership Council member.
Candy, chips and pop were sold during volleyball games including one or two tournaments over a week to raise funds.
“It is important for the kids to give back to society,” said Gilliland.
