This week, De Soto High School is starting off the breast cancer awareness month of October with a Breast Cancer Awareness spirit week. For many students and staff members at DHS the support in October hits them at a personal level.

Junior Rylie McDaniel actively supports breast cancer awareness and has family members who were affected by it.

Around last March, her grandmother beat breast cancer and her cousin had it at a young age. She believes that seeing it in her family has made her more aware.

McDaniel and her family support breast cancer awareness, while staying healthy and active.

“Every year my family and I do a 5k [called] the Susan G. Komen walk/run that donates all of its money to research,” McDaniel said.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series is the largest and the most successful fundraising event for breast cancer in the world. There are Susan G. Komen events to participate in located across the United States and other countries such as Greece and Italy.

Students are encouraged to support and “race for the cure.” The local annual walk/run is being held in Overland Park, Kansas on Saturday October 7, 2017.

McDaniel believes students at DHS should also participate during breast cancer awareness week by dressing up according to the theme for each day to help support while showing school spirit.

“[Students should] donate when they can to help research for a cure. If [students] know anyone that has breast cancer they should reach out and provide support for them because it’s not an easy thing to overcome,” McDaniel said.