Breast Cancer Fundraiser Turns Parsippany High Pink

It was a sight to behold.  

Classrooms filled with pink-clad students, cafeterias ablaze in pink, corridors a sea of pink in motion.  

Parsippany High School was transformed into a patch of pink Oct. 26, as students, teachers, administrators and staff joined forces in an effort to show concern and raise money for the fight against breast cancer.   

But the day was not the only thing that was painted pink.  Some 30 male teachers put aside their razors in the weeks leading up to the occasion and cultivated full beards.  

The event, now in its second year, was billed as “Beards for Breast Cancer Awareness” and the transitional faces of the teachers drew the attention of colleagues and students alike.  As the “pink-out” day approached, photos of the bearded teachers were placed on prominent display, and on the day itself, the teachers painted their beards pink.  Students then voted for the best looking beard.  At the same time, the PHS community nearly uniformly wore specially made pink shirts to show their support for the cause. 

 The pink bearded men were further recognized for their efforts at the Parsippany High School Homecoming day football game that same evening.  At that event, the team sported pink socks, the band donned pink gloves and the cheerleaders were clad in pink ribbons.  The game was the culmination of a month long promotion of breast cancer awareness, in which all players of all PHS sports have been wearing pink.

The promotion, combined with Parsippany-Troy Hills’ participation in a nationwide walk to make “Strides Against Breast Cancer” on Oct. 21, raised more than $10,000 for the American Cancer Society’s fight against the disease.

Participating teachers were: