Dedham Middle School Recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month …

 As the month of October began to unfold, we became increasingly aware that we were awash in a sea of pink. Newspapers across the country were published on pink paper. Each Sunday, NFL teams appeared on our TV`s with players, coaches and officials donned in pink clothing. More and more, men and women of all ages were seen with a touch of pink!

You see, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) is a collaboration of national public service organizations and government agencies, working together on an annual campaign to increase awareness of this disease.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer of women worldwide! It is estimated that more than 1.6 million new cases of breast cancer occur in women worldwide each year. Sadly, almost 500,000 people worldwide die from breast cancer every year.

It is the goal of the NBCAM to promote Breast Cancer Awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to services available. Since its inception more than 25 years ago, NBCAM has been at the forefront of helping people take charge of their own health. Although great strides have been made in breast cancer awareness (mammography and early detection have leveled off the increase of this disease in the past decade) there remains much more to be accomplished.

To stay in tune with current events, the 600 plus students and teachers at the Dedham Middle School, were “encouraged to wear pink to school” on a recent Friday. The response was overwhelming! As parents dropped off their children and the buses pulled up at the front door, the sea of pink continued to grow. With the help of Phys. Ed. Teacher Rhonda Coates, we were able to group together the boys and girls of grades 6, 7, and 8 to show the world – DMS “cares.”

Story and Photos: by Joe Kilroy