Happy October, Raptors! October is a special month, full of fun and exciting things to enjoy. Halloween, Yom Kippur, Diwali and so much more!  But one holiday that deserves more limelight is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM for short).

In the US, October is hailed as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is celebrated by survivors, their families, and charities nationwide. Pink is its official color.

Here at the Academies, we’re showing our support for BCAM this year with our PINK OUT sale happening at our school store. The new PINK OUT sale features pink t-shirts, quarter zip sweaters, and other clothing in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. According to the Academies, more than $3,200 was raised to benefit the Loudoun Breast Health Network through the sale. To get to know more about the PINK OUT sale and what it’s all about, I went ahead and interviewed Mrs. Sandra Tucker, the Entrepreneurship teacher here at the Academies.  Mrs. Tucker runs the school store along with some of her students. When I got to the school store, I asked Mrs. Tucker what “PINK OUT” was and what breast cancer awareness meant to her.

Mrs. Tucker told me that she is a breast cancer survivor herself and that she also had a mother with breast cancer (who unfortunately passed due to the disease). Because of this, Mrs.Tucker considers this project “near and dear” to her heart. According to her, Mrs.Tucker has been supporting breast cancer awareness charities and programs since she started teaching in 1998. 

Now in 2025, this PINK OUT happening at the Academies supports Loudoun Breast Health Network: a local organization that provides support for families in need for whatever they need (rent money, buying groceries, transportation, etc.). Our PINK OUT would  help raise funds for Loudoun Breast Health Network.

Finally, when I asked what students could do more to help survivors of breast cancer, Mrs. Tucker responded: “…I think they can not only make a purchase but they can also volunteer their time at local breast cancer organizations…writing letters, doing cards, working with local hospitals…whatever they need but there are volunteer opportunities in the community.”

 

Have a great rest of your week, Raptors! Stay cool.

Written by Corey DeJesus

Edited by Sandra Gad