Crystal Apilado
Oct 17, 2024
Winters High School students Karen Covarrubias Lopez and Kendra Cabrera are combining their passion for community outreach and education with their Senior Capstone Project by hosting a Pink Out football game on October 18, aimed at raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
The event will serve as a powerful visual demonstration of the statistics surrounding breast cancer, where 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
“We feel it would be more impactful to show it instead of just say it,” said Covarrubias Lopez, explaining why they chose this particular approach for their project. The duo aims to normalize conversations about breast cancer and stress the importance of awareness for both men and women.
Pink Out game
Join them this Friday at the Dr. Sellers Football Field on Oct. 18 for the Pink Out game. Junior varsity kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and varsity follows around 7 p.m.
As part of their project, Covarrubias Lopez and Cabrera sold Pink Out T-shirts, with all proceeds going to Thriving Pink, a local nonprofit supporting breast cancer survivors and education. Thriving Pink will also have a booth at the game, offering resources and information to attendees. In addition, Solano Pink Heels will make a special appearance with their signature Christine Pink firetruck, helping to further spotlight the cause.
In a unique fundraising effort, the pair is introducing the “Pipe It Up” challenge. During the game, attendees can drop change through connected PVC pipes that run from the bleachers to the field, symbolizing the flow of support from the community to those affected by breast cancer.
The WHS cheer squad is also getting involved, with a special entrance and halftime routine to further boost the Pink Out spirit.
Personal connections
Both Covarrubias Lopez and Cabrera have personal motivations for taking on this project. Cabrera said she lost an aunt to the disease when she was young.
“I was too young to understand then, but as I got older, I started to realize more and wanted to learn,” she said.
Cabrera’s experience sparked her desire to educate herself and others about breast cancer, especially the importance of self-exams. Covarrubias Lopez, too, has personal ties to the cause, mentioning how her mother’s friend lived with breast cancer.
“I wanted a project that would be impactful,” she said. “Not only am I learning, but I’m also teaching others, and I think that’s really important.”
For Covarrubias Lopez, bringing awareness to a subject that can sometimes feel uncomfortable to discuss is key.
Community outreach
Beyond the Pink Out game, they have extended their outreach efforts into the broader community.
On Oct. 21, the duo will help host a class as part of Thriving Pink’s Prospa Rosa program, specifically designed for mothers and daughters. The session, held in the Margaret Parsons Room, will provide educational resources on breast cancer in Spanish, with English translators available. The goal is to bridge the information gap in bilingual communities and emphasize the importance of early detection.
Learning, spreading awareness
One of the most surprising lessons both girls have learned during their project is that breast cancer can also affect men, a fact they hope to share more broadly.
“I had no idea,” said Cabrera.
Both students emphasize that their journey of learning and sharing doesn’t stop with the project.
“I still want to learn more about it,” Cabrera said. “I’m still going to the meetings to learn more.”
To follow updates on the Pink Out game and their other initiatives, visit: