By Lydia Prendergast

 

        Over the course of several years, Canton High School has taken part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Boston, MA. It seems that every year the group of CHS students grows larger, and this year was no exception! Close to 200 CHS students took part in the walk on September 30th, 2018. As of now, over $11,000 has been raised, with a whopping $106,000 over the course of CHS’s attendance.

    

        As the day began, yawning students arrived at CHS at 7:30 AM, coffee in hand and smiles on their faces. Masses of pink crowded into the bright yellow school buses, ready for the excitement to come. A short 30 minute drive later, students spilled out of the buses and onto the grass in front of the hatch shell. The cool fall air breezed by as the sun warmed the field, and a sea of supporters bustled around the area. Women with ‘survivor’ sashes stood proudly and fiercely, and those around them stood in awe of their strength. You could feel the positivity and hope in the air, and everywhere you turned there was a smiling face. Soon, the speakers began to call up high schools, thanking them for their hard work and raising of money. Several CHS students were seen on stage, receiving an award for raising the 2nd most amount of money for all high schools last year. Drama Club, volleyball, cross country, cheerleading, field hockey, and girls soccer were seen all at the event. These CHS students walked the 6 miles with poise, confidence, and spirit.

       

       I usually walk with my family’s team, including my mother who is a survivor. However, they were not able to attend, so I joined the other students, repping Drama Club and CHS. Although this was only my first year doing the walk as a part of the Canton High team, I have done the walk in years past and am always in awe at the amount of hope this one event can bring. It is able to show that there is always light, even in the darkest of situations. The support and love that this event shows amazes me every year, and being a student that took part in this makes me so proud to go to Canton High, and I hope that other students feel the same. If you haven’t done the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in years past, highly consider it. Let’s cure cancer together!