CCA WEAR PINK FOR BREAST CANCER!

At Clear Creek Amana High School, October represented Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The booster club kicked things off by bringing attention to this important cause. Additionally, the Student Council teamed up to raise awareness for breast cancer as well. The booster club decided to sell pink t-shirts, while the Student Council spent their lunch blocks and time before the Pink Out football game selling awareness bracelets for only $2.

In an email with Addison Skow, the student coordinating the breast cancer awareness fundraiser, she explained her perspective on the event. Here's what Addie Skow had to say: “It all started with football planning. My mother, Heidi Skow, volunteers with the booster club, and I always remembered her talking about the Pink Out and all the amazing opportunities we had to give back to our community. So, when I ensured my mom that there would be a Pink Out, the booster club created the Pink Out shirts! Every year, Student Council has a back-to-school meeting to plan things like homecoming and fall activities. I voiced the idea for the Student Council to get involved with the booster club to raise money for a great cause. In our planning, we knew that whatever we sold had to be different from what we’d done in the past. Mrs. Moore and I worked together to find bracelets that we thought matched our goals. We picked this organization because it was more local, and we knew we would be helping people in our community! We chose bracelets because you can wear them every day; they’re different from a t-shirt, more affordable, and appeal to a wider audience! In bracelet sales, we raised $741.42!”

STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS BELLA BEHERNS, PAYTON CURTIN, ADDIE SKOW, CARLEY NASH, BAILEY SIMPSON, AND ELISE BERRY PRESENTED THEIR DONATION TO TEAM BREAST FRIENDS; PHOTO BY MARISSA MOORE

Next, I interviewed Heidi Skow, Addie Skow's mother, who is part of the booster club, and asked her a few questions about the impact she and the booster club had. Before starting the interview, Skow shared a little bit about the booster club, saying: “The Clear Creek Amana Athletic Booster Club was created to promote athletic programs, encourage school and community spirit, recognize the endeavors and achievements of teams and individual athletes, and support and assist the athletic department, coaches, and administrative staff.

Fundraising efforts enable the club to fund athletic scholarships for graduating seniors and purchase items to enhance all athletic teams at Clear Creek Amana. Fundraising involves both volunteers and the financial support required to foster the development of our student-athletes and maintain a high-quality athletic program.”

The interview continued with Heidi Skow explaining how the booster club decided to raise money for breast cancer awareness. She explained, “The Clear Creek Amana Booster Club is deeply committed to supporting important causes within our community. Breast cancer affects many lives, including those of our students, their families, and our community members. October, being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, provided the perfect opportunity for us to rally support and raise funds for this critical cause. Our goal was not only to raise money but also to raise awareness and show solidarity with those affected by breast cancer.”

Skow then shared how they chose the organization to donate to: “We chose to donate the proceeds to Team Breast Friends, an organization known for its impactful work in providing financial support locally. This decision was influenced by our desire to ensure that the funds raised would directly benefit members of our community who are battling breast cancer. Team Breast Friends has a strong track record of offering tangible assistance to those in need, making them an ideal partner for our fundraising efforts.”

Finally, she explained why they decided to sell t-shirts: “T-shirts were chosen for several reasons. Firstly, they are a popular and effective way to create a sense of unity and visibility for a cause. By wearing these shirts, our community can show their solidarity with breast cancer patients and survivors not just during our Pink Out football game but all year round. Additionally, t-shirts are a practical item that people enjoy purchasing and wearing, which helps maximize our fundraising efforts. The positive response and high demand we’ve received from the community affirm that this was a successful choice.”

Skow concluded the interview by sharing: “We are thrilled to announce that we raised over $1,800 through our t-shirt sales. Due to the overwhelming demand and continued interest from the community, we plan to reopen our t-shirt sales to further support Team Breast Friends and expand our impact.”