October is more than Halloween candy and horror movies, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Guilford sports teams are gearing up to promote awareness.

Every year for the entire month of October, our college sport teams don pink to raise awareness for breast cancer. Pink jerseys, pink cleats and even pink energy drinks are all included in the movement to raise money and awareness against breast cancer.

This year there are an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer and about 60,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. It is also estimated that about one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, whereas one in 1,000 men are at risk.

“When I was a senior in high school my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said senior football defensive back Chris Campolieta.

Campolieta is just one of the millions of people who have been affected by the disease He and the rest of the Guilford football team have done their best to support the cause and raise awareness to help fight breast cancer.

“Since I was a first-year I have done a fundraiser every year with the football team by selling pink bracelets,” said Campolieta. “The support for this fundraiser has gone up a ton since then and has become more of a team fundraiser.”

Football is not the only team that has a connection with breast cancer awareness month. The school’s men’s and women’s soccer teams as well as the volleyball team also make sure to participate.

“I’ve unfortunately seen my grandmother succumb to cancer,” said men’s soccer head coach Jeff Bateson. “But I’ve also been able to witness the strength and courage it takes to beat cancer through my two aunts and, more recently, my mother.”

The men’s soccer team’s attitude towards breast cancer awareness is the same as their coach, optimistic and ready to do whatever they can to help.

“I would love to get involved with awareness and fundraising for such an important cause,” said senior soccer team captain and defensemen Jake Elsey. “I am always looking to do more to help those in need.”

The women’s soccer team also fully supports raising awareness for breast cancer.

“To me, breast cancer awareness month means action,” said women’s soccer senior midfielder Cassie Vaughn.  “I believe that we need to take action against this horrible disease, for it takes so many of our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, friends and other family members.”

Volleyball has also been looking for ways that they can increase their efforts in supporting the cause.

“We’ve talked about not having pink jerseys,” said volleyball head coach Emily Gann. “Instead of spending money on jerseys, why not just donate the money?”

It does not stop there. In addition to spreading awareness through games and off-field events, each Guilford team participates in the annual Relay for Life held on campus each year to help raise money for breast cancer awareness.

With sports teams and players who so passionately spread awareness of breast cancer and raise money to help the cause, hopefully the survival rates will continue to increase for more years to come.