By Daniel Nash

The Courier-Herald

As the second-leading cause of death in the United States, cancer may affect most of the people in the United States – if not directly, then through the acquaintance of family and friendship.

With no apparent cure, some groups find it important to raise awareness of the disease to maintain fundraising for research and support for cancer survivors and those still afflicted with the disease.

North Tapps Middle School did its part Oct. 16 by hosting the first of planned monthly Because We Care days.

The Parent Teacher Student Association organized the event. Students, faculty and staff wore pink to show support and solidarity in the face of the ever-present crisis of breast cancer. Participants put on tights, shirts, skirts, armbands, stuck on colored band-aids and dyed their hair to support the cause.

School spirit group the Red Peppers posted a banner in the North Tapps multipurpose room pasted edge-to-edge with pink hearts made by students.

“Most of them have the names of people the student knew who had cancer, whether they survived it or didn’t make it,” Red Pepper Natasha Pawlak said. “Even people who don’t know someone, their heart just says ‘Find a Cure.’”

The North Tapps event is associated with the annual “Come Walk With Me” event, a walk for breast cancer awareness that took place in Sumner Oct. 10.

Students in North Tapps language arts classes made the hearts during class time. Seventh-grade teacher Valerie Tesch expected 125 hearts to be made for the banner, but they ended up with about 400.

Pawlak had two hearts on the banner, one for her grandmother and one for her cousin.

Jake Wicks didn’t have any hearts, but he dyed his hair pink in support of the cause.

“Today’s important because everyone can just contribute for the cure,” he said.

The variety of hearts on the banner was a testament to the pervasiveness of cancer, and the variety of loved ones cancer affects. Sixth-grade student Isaac Forde made one for his dog that died.

“I’m not a big fan of cancer,” he said.

Despite the association with “Come Walk With Me,” the event was for cancer in all its forms.

“Breast cancer is a big problem, but this has to be for any kind of cancer, because we all probably know someone who’s been affected by it,” student Allison Hand said.

North Tapps plans to hold Because We Care Day once a month through the end of the year, and will typically be held on the second Friday of each month. PTSA has no plans to take down the banner, and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger, PTSA President Karen Shearer said.

The event is spreading to other schools in the Dieringer district. Lake Tapps and Dieringer Heights elementary schools staged their versions of the event the next two Fridays.

The PTSA is selling pink shirts in support of cancer awareness for $11.