Students walk to fight back against breast cancer

To honor the memory of teaching assistant Geri Marell, affectionately known as “Ms. Geri,” Neil A. Armstrong Middle School holds Breast Cancer Awareness Week every October. The week raises money for the Susan G. Komen organization in memory of Ms. Geri, who lost her battle with breast cancer in March 2007.

The culminating event of week was an hour-long Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on October 7. Decked out in pink attire, 734 Armstrong students and 100 staff members, who donated and signed up, walked around Amrstrong’s track and the perimeter of the school. Breast Cancer Awareness Week, held October 3-7 this year, raised $1,428 and the school will continue to raise money throughout the month of October. The Susan G. Komen organization addresses breast cancer through research, community health, global outreach and public policy initiatives.

“The entire school rallies together for Armstrong’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week,” said Armstrong teaching assistant Kathy Cook-Lyle, one of the main organizers of the fundraising effort. “Being connected and committed to this important cause gives the students a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves. They all feel that they are making a difference and they definitely are.”

To raise awareness, students participated in a kick-off assembly, ribbon signing and essay writing. Additionally, students donated $1 to participate in the walk and staff donated $4 to wear jeans for the week. Tape race could also be purchased for 25 cents per foot or $1 for 5 feet, and breast cancer awareness bracelets were on sale for 50 cents.

This is the 14th year Armstrong celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Week, skipping 2020 due to COVID-19.