Pink Crocs, wigs, and T-shirts filled the hallways of Warren Central during Pink Week starting Sept. 18. By Friday’s football game day, the color was unavoidable in the school.
Pink Week is a week to honor breast cancer survivors and those currently battling the disease. Students are encouraged to dress head to toe in all shades of the bubblegum color, and many of the sports teams have a designated “pink out” game where they wear specialty pink uniforms.
“Pink is a bold color, so I think … in terms of bringing awareness to people who are battling, have survived or have someone related to you that had breast cancer or cancer in general, it’s just a positive thing” said Lauren Hughes, assistant to the athletic director.
Pink Week first began in 2009 when the Warren Central girls volleyball team was choosing what cause to support and chose Cancer Awareness. One of the players on the volleyball team had a parent battling cancer, and another player's father had died of cancer.
From there, it snowballed into a school-wide, week-long event. The school’s efforts benefitted the Susan G. Komen Foundation in its early years. According to former Warren Central teacher Candy Handy, the school has also partnered with the Indiana Women in Need Foundation, raising several thousands of dollars per year.
“It matters to me on a personal level,” Handy said. “I lost my grandmother to breast cancer when I was in my twenties. Treatment was not near as advanced as it is today. My sister is a breast cancer survivor, and I have also had so many friends’ lives affected.”
Sherri Nelson, a chemistry and biology teacher at Warren, fought, underwent treatment and was ultimately able to overcome her own breast cancer. This has deeply impacted her life over five years ago.
“When I wear pink it reminds me how strong I am and to be supportive of everybody who is still fighting cancer,” she said. “I think we could learn to accept that there is more than one way to fight cancer and that there are all different types of cancers, and some people have to go through chemotherapy and radiation and lose their hair, get sick and some people don't. I think that it’s important to recognize that all cancers are scary.”
The boys soccer team kicked off the week a few days early with their Pink Week game on Sept. 14. Admission was free for those wearing pink, but baskets for donations to the American Cancer Society were placed at the entrance. The Warriors beat Heritage Christian in a 5-3 game.
”It was electric,” soccer player Kenny Ramirez said. “People I knew came by and it was good seeing everyone you know there and supporting the team. It was fun. We need more of those types of crowds.”
Hughes said the free admission to people donned in pink was a new addition to the week this year, as an effort to encourage more students to attend the events. The same was offered for Warren Volleyball’s “pink out” game on Sept. 21, again drawing large numbers. The girls lost to Ben Davis in a tight 3-2 match.
Football’s “pink out” game against Pike on Sept. 22 featured a recognition ceremony to honor some of Warren’s breast cancer survivors. The boys ended up dominating Pike 23-6.