Linden Public Schools came together in October with creative and caring efforts to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month by raising more than $4,000 to help victims and fund research.
The Linden High School girls volleyball team raised $1,500 through its Pink Out event. The players set aside their normal orange and black uniforms for the Oct. 30 match against Elizabeth but instead wore pink uniforms and decorated the gym with pink ribbons, balloons and signs. In addition, the team sold ‘Pink Out’ shirts, homemade baked goods and accepted donations from all those that attended the match. All proceeds went to the Rutgers Cancer Institute for breast cancer research. The team also honored breast cancer survivors at the match with pink roses.
“Our Pink Out is an extremely important event to us at Linden High School,” said volleyball head coach Marissa DelloRusso. “We are trying to bring awareness to breast cancer, all while raising funds for breast cancer research. Since breast cancer is so prevalent in today’s society and early detection is vital to improving survival rates, the girls volleyball team is trying to make a difference in our school and community by spreading its awareness.”
The Linden High School Naval Junior ROTC donated $1,300 to Susan G. Komen North Jersey on Oct. 18. Participating cadets gave at least $20 each, $10 of which went to buy a pink aiguillette (a decorative braid worn on the shoulder of their uniforms for Breast Cancer Awareness Month) and the rest went toward the donation.
NJROTC Commander Boyd Decker credited senior Bermuda Pierre with the idea, and said he’d like to make it a growing tradition. “Maybe next year it will be $3,000 or $4,000,” he said.
With the help of its parents, families and community, School No. 2 raised $800 through sales of ribbons, hats and socks. The money will be donated to the American Cancer Society. The school also held a "hats off" to Breast Cancer Awareness day on Oct. 30, when students, faculty and staff wore blue and pink as well as hats to honor those who have battled cancer. Students also decorated the building with ribbons to raise awareness.
McManus Middle School raised over $300 with a mini-carnival in the school’s media center on Oct. 19. Students visited during their lunch periods to play boardwalk-style games for 25 or 50 cents a piece. All proceeds were donated to the Susan G. Komen organization.
School No. 8 held a pink-out day on Oct. 20th, where students donated $1 and dressed in pink in support of the cause. The effort raised over $200, which was added to a fundraiser to fight cancer at ShopRite in Clark.
The Linden High School football booster club gave the team pamphlets about breast cancer and pink socks to wear during games to raise awareness and to honor breast cancer survivors -- particularly Jean Banks, the mother of one of the players and a booster club member.
Photo Captions: Linden High School girls volleyball match on Oct. 30th. (From left to right are cancer survivor Barbara Carter; Linden volleyball seniors Karisma Lewis, Deja Ampey, Toni Frino, Lexis Rodriguez, Maria Manuel and Ny'lah Dent; cancer survivors Mary Ann Devaney and Patricia Lewis; and coach Marissa DelloRusso)
*Linden High School Principal Yelena Horre speaking at the girls volleyball Pink Out match, with the players behind her in their pink uniforms
*130 Linden High School Naval Junior ROTC cadets who participated in the fundraising effort to fight breast cancer.
(Chief Petty Officer Mark Velez, Commander Boyd Decker, Regimental Command Master Chief Janali Casanas, Regimental Executive Officer Bermuda Pierre, Tina Jacobs of Susan G. Komen North Jersey, Regimental Commanding Officer Jet’aime Thompson, Regimental Operations Officer Alexandra Alvarez, and Linden High School Principal Yelena Horre)
*The Linden High School football team gathered around Jean Banks, the mother of player Christopher Banks and a breast cancer survivor.
*Items sold at School No. 2 to raise money for breast cancer research.