Lower Macungie Middle School recently held its ninth annual Pink Out. Early in the school day, students gathered outside for an aerial photo in the shape of a flask, reflecting the theme Elements of a Cure.

The culmination of the Pink Out is the after school activity. Students dressed in everything pink – shirts, cowboy hats, bandanas, beads, shoelaces and more and enjoyed games, food, a DJ and a pink raffle. There was also a “Ballin’ for Breast Cancer” basketball tournament.

The event began in 2010 as a way for faculty, staff and students to support breast cancer awareness in honor of eighth grade science teacher Michelle Harned, who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. After the first year, the event kept going and has gained momentum over the past eight years.

Since 2010, five faculty and staff at LMMS have been affected by breast cancer.

Harned now coordinates the event and says the support has been overwhelming. Over 800 pink shirts were purchased by a student body of 1,200. Twenty-three basketball teams registered to play in “Ballin’ for Breast Cancer.”

The entire school community – faculty, students and parents – comes together to make Pink Out a success. Money raised from T-shirt sales, the aerial photo, raffles and the basketball tournament is given to the Allentown Women’s 5K Classic.