WIZARDS SPREAD AWARENESS FOR BREAST CANCER

By NICOLETTE SMITH 

Last Saturday, the student section at Washingtonville High School’s homecoming game was a sea of pink as Wizard Nation spread awareness for the horrendous disease known as breast cancer.  The football players even joined in by wearing pink accessories.  This isn’t the first time Washingtonville has shown this kind of support; the high school has shown its heartfelt support numerous times for the women and families of fellow students, teachers, and staff members impacted by this terrible disease.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among U.S. women.  According to breastcancer.org, “About 1 in every 8 U.S. women (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her life.”  This disease does not distinguish between grandmothers, mothers, and daughters as it wreaks havoc on entire families.   Through the chaos of breast cancer, events are held and pink is worn to shed light on the women impacted by this life threatening condition. 

NICOLETTE SMITH FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it is fitting that every year some of the fall sports devote at least one game to breast cancer awareness. Aside from the football team,  the girls varsity soccer team bought new pink shorts and pink and white jerseys to wear during their own game. 

In addition to athletics, during the high school’s spirit week, one day was specifically devoted for a “pink out”.  On this day, the student body was covered head to toe in pink.   It was awe-inspiring seeing almost every student participate to support the women and families dealing with  breast cancer as well as those who have survived. 

Mrs. Davis, a guidance counselor at Washingtonville High School and a breast cancer survivor, expressed, “I think our community does a lot for cancer survivors and awareness of the cause. We did the pink out last week for spirit week, and I thought it was a really nice effort.  I also saw lots of pink at the homecoming game, and I greatly appreciate it.” The efforts made by the Wizards and the community to spread awareness touched the hearts of all who have been affected by breast cancer. 

People may not be aware of the fact that Washingtonville High School has a club called Wizards Against Cancer that works to support the cause and raise awareness for breast cancer.  Club members work tirelessly all year to raise money for donations to charities that help people battling cancer.  This club was founded in 2015 by Lucia Dugan, who was a senior at the time. Mrs. Lynch, one of the advisors of the club, remarks, “Lucia saw a need in the school to help support students and faculty members that were battling cancer. It really hit her when she found out that students that she knew were battling cancer, and she didn’t even know it. Her father had also won his own battle against cancer, so she was really moved to do something and make a difference.”

The club donates to The Hudson Valley Cancer Research Center because they help people battling against cancer in Orange County by getting them the treatment they need and supplying counseling support. The Wizards Against Cancer Club organizes all the color outs for the school; they try to do a different color every month to raise awareness for the different types of cancers out there, not just breast cancer.  In addition, they hold a fundraiser called “Cuts For a Cure” in the spring to bring awareness to children's cancer.  During the event, local hair salons cut the hair of community members and that hair is donated to create wigs for cancer patients going through chemotherapy.  Wizards Against Cancer is a generous club that is always looking to give and spread awareness for the people suffering, or who have survived, cancer. 

Washingtonville High School always shows awareness and support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Whether it is wearing pink to a football game, buying new pink jerseys for the soccer team, or putting together fundraisers to help suffering patients, the students and community of Washingtonville never fail to show their endless support.