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Pretty in pink
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
First-grader Gabryel McCoy, 6, thought breast cancer was such an important cause that he borrowed a shirt from his sister so he could participate in a fundraising event at Youngstown Christian School.
Gabryel sported a pink Mario Brothers shirt for the school’s Pretty in Pink Day.
Students and teachers paid $1 to wear pink clothes.
The money will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
“It’s to help scientists find a cure and to help,” Gabryel explained.
Linda Mansfield, dean of students, said several students have had family members who suffered from breast cancer.
“We pray for them every day, but we also thought it was important to raise money for breast-cancer research,” she said.
Shelley Murray, director of institutional advancement at the school, said this marks the first year for the event.
“We’ll definitely do it again,” she said. “The kids seem really excited.”
Maralise Vazquez, 6, also a first-grader, was too shy to talk about her ensemble — pink top and pants — but she knows it’s all about cancer and trying to help people who have it.
Kindergartner Carmen Ortiz-Cintron, 6, got $1 from her mom so she could wear pink and help people with the disease.
E.J. Giles, 5, also in kindergarten, secured a dollar for his sister so he could wear his black and pink Youngstown Youth Flag Football Association sweat shirt and contribute.
“It’s for cancer,” he said.
Fifth-graders Raven Gratton, 11, and Jada Snipes, Elyse Anderson, Landaeshia Temple, all 10, each participated in the event.
“It’s for cancer and to help people who have cancer,” Raven said.
Elyse, who paid the $1 from her allowance, said a friend of her father’s suffered from breast cancer but is doing well now.
Landaeshia knew someone who didn’t survive the disease.
Her donation “is for research for cancer and to support people with cancer,” she said.