Senior scalp shave helps cut away at breast cancer
Many of FHS Pink Out 13 speak
Stephanie Thompson, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and a Farragut High booster, started Pink Out at FHS as part of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, in memory of her late sister, Ashley Slagle Roback (FHS Class of 2000) in 2018.
One year later, Thompson started the tradition where a handful of FHS senior boys annually volunteer to have their heads shaved during the late October Pink Out period in order to further boost the fundraising effort.
Yet another part of that October effort, Thompson makes and sells T-shirts for $10 each — from which $4.50 goes to American Cancer Society. “Over the last seven years, there have been more than 4,000 pink shirts sold,” she said.
What follows are various quotes from five of the 13 male seniors who will have their heads shaved during the third quarter of FHS Pink Out Night in Eddie Courtney Stadium, as the Ads varsity football team hosts rival Hardin Valley Academy Friday, Oct 25. Simply put, why are you doing this?
Though Banks Duncan had a grandmother who beat breast cancer, “I know a lot of people who have gone through this and lost people and relatives they know and love. ...”
Blake Garibay said he’s had “family and friends who have gone through it, and I’ve seen how it affected them. ...”
Dom VanAcker said, “I’m doing this for my buddy, Trey (Slagle, one of the 13), his mother (Ashley) died from breast cancer.”
Hayden Johnson said, “I’ve had a lot of friends and neighbors who have (had cancer), so I’m doing this to spread awareness.”
Julian Schearer said, “My grandmother had cancer and died.”
(Read quotes from other FHS 13 seniors in next week’s issue)
