This October marks 40 years since the American Cancer Society launched Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985. Over the past four decades, the initiative has grown into a meaningful time to reflect on the impact of breast cancer and to show support for those affected. M-A has found many ways to contribute to the cause through enjoyable and purposeful events that help raise awareness and show solidarity with those fighting breast cancer.
This year marked the third annual Powder Puff football game, where the junior girls battled the senior girls in a spirited flag football game. The game serves as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness, with profits from the team’s jersey sales going directly toward the Bay Area Young Survivors Foundation.
This year’s game was sponsored by Thrive Cosmetics, a beauty brand that has donated $39 million in products and funds to breast cancer-related causes in addition to supporting 113 breast cancer giving partners nationwide. Leadership passed out free lipsticks in various shades of pink to honor the cause.
Alongside the Powder Puff game, M-A’s first October home game for the varsity football team featured its annual pink-out theme. The color—adopted as a symbol of breast cancer awareness in the early ’90s—represents feminine strength, hope, compassion, and resilience.
The team also wears pink tape, towels, and wristbands to show their support. “We do it for awareness. It’s personal to me because my mom has had breast cancer two times, it means something for me to be able to represent it out in the field,” junior football player Zachary Sokol said.
The girls volleyball team also contributed to the cause, with a pink-out game of their own and a bake sale to raise money for the Side-Out Foundation—a nonprofit that conducts research and provides support for those with breast cancer.
Additionally, this year, sophomore Ilaria Cline* founded the Pink Ribbon Alliance Club to advocate and raise money for breast cancer. Cline founded the club in honor of her mother, Julie Pietrantoni (Cline), who passed away in 2021 after a long battle with breast cancer. The club hosts a variety of fundraisers, such as bake sales and ribbon making.
Pink Ribbon Alliance donates to multiple organizations, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Young Survival Coalition, National Breast Cancer Foundation, and HERS Breast Cancer Foundation.
“The club is important for raising awareness and creating a safe space where everyone is welcome,” sophomore co-President Alli Brottem said.
“I wanted to get the community involved. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and I realized there are so many people on campus who have lost a family member because of it,” junior and club Secretary Avery Williams said.
For those interested in joining the Pink Ribbon Alliance, the club meets every other Thursday in G-12 at lunch.
While October has ended, M-A’s commitment to supporting breast cancer awareness remains strong. From the Powder Puff game, to pink out themes, to the ongoing efforts of the Pink Ribbon Alliance club, the community continues to honor and support those fighting the disease.
*Ilaria Cline is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle.
