Students at East Marion Elementary performed a special balloon release ceremony Monday afternoon in observance of October's designation as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Karen Irvin-Barnes, director of Save the Children, coordinated with Principal Chase Robbins and a squad of several volunteers, staff and faculty members, whose generously combined efforts made the event such a success.
The ceremony consisted of the elementary student body forming a large circle on the front campus, surrounding September's students of the month who each held a balloon tagged with the name of a cancer survivor, someone currently battling cancer or someone who has lost their fight to the disease.
The tagged balloons were released in honor of, or in memory of, individuals associated with past and present staff, family and loved ones abroad.
Parent/Homeless Liaison Karen Barnes had a vision to include the staff and students in recognizing individuals who had survived breast cancer, as well as those still undergoing treatment and those who have since succumbed to cancer.
"Parent liaisons and East Marion Elementary staff have worked diligently to bring this vision into reality. The ceremony and the designation of 'Pink Out' day were created in hopes of bringing awareness to those brave individuals who have fought, or are currently fighting, the battle against cancer," Barnes said. "We wanted to involve the students to help provide an outlet for those who may know of anyone currently battling cancer, won the battle or have lost their battle with this devastating disease."
Barnes said this event is also valuable because it teaches students who have not been personally affected by knowing or being close or related to someone with cancer the meaning and purpose of displaying pink during the month of October.
"Most of our students have 'Pink Out' days with the many extracurricular activities and church activities that they participate in yearly. We wanted the students to understand the purpose of the pink ribbon campaign and the cause during the month of October," Barnes said. "With the assistance of the SEL counselor, academic support coordinator and behavior interventionist, we were excited to coordinate several of our September students of the month to help release the balloons with staff members and K-3 students looking on."
Along with the balloon release, a table was set up in the foyer area with informational materials provided by the American Cancer Society.
"The table also displayed special recognition to four ladies associated with our local community and school who were survivors of cancer and who lost their battle with cancer," Barnes said. "The beautiful display was dedicated to all those beautiful, brave, strong, faithful and courageous individuals who were survivors and those who lost their battle."
