(Photos by Sam Cary)

Approximately 40,610 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2017 from breast cancer, according to breastcancer.org. Death rates for breast cancer have been decreasing since the late 1980s, one of the main reasons for the decrease is an increase in research. This is what HOSA and DECA set out to do when they began their Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser at the beginning of this week.

“I think it is a good idea, because it will help raise a lot of funds for Breast Cancer Awareness,” junior HOSA member Juan Alega said. “Especially with the competition for teachers getting pied in the face.”

Both clubs began advertising the fundraiser with a competition where the winning FHN teacher would get pied in the face. Social studies teacher Mark Olwig was announced, via HOSA Sponsor and science teacher Matthew Riffee’s twitter account, as the teacher with the most money donated in his name from this competition. Olwig started off first hour, and his birthday, on Friday, Oct. 13, with a chocolate meringue pie in the face.

This competition pitted teachers against each other, but in a good way. Riffee sent jars to different teachers’ classrooms and that teacher was responsible for getting money for another teacher.

“It was nice,” Riffee said. “It built a sense of community towards a cause. It brought teachers and students together.”

The money raised will go to the National Breast Care Foundation (NBCF). The final amount from lunch, teacher classrooms and the online campaign donations was $728.37. Olwig had $217.75 donated in his name from students at FHN. HOSA and DECA plan to continue fundraising at tonight’s pink out football game and they hope to raise over $1,000 for the NBCF.

“It’s [the competition’s] been so fun and it’s for a great cause, so it’s a win-win,” English teacher Kristen Johnson said.