Pink-Out Day, which started at Poplar Bluff Schools and soon expanded city-wide, has reportedly raised over $200,000 for the United Cancer Assistance Network over the past decade.

The 10^th annual Pink-Out Day, dedicated to the local nonprofit, took place on Friday, Oct. 9, culminating with Mules Football defeating the Cape Central Tigers.

The founder of the event, Brooke Kirby of the PBHS Class of 2012, lives in Springfield now, but says her family keeps her in the loop and she still “gets excited” when she hears about the widespread participation every year.

“We had attended a [Missouri Association of Student Councils] conference and saw a bunch of bigger schools like St. Louis and Kansas City doing it,” explained Kirby, who served as StuCo president during her senior year. “At the time I had known several people who had breast cancer—it being the most common form—and with Poplar Bluff being a close-knit community—already having UCAN—I didn’t know why we weren’t doing anything like that.”

PBHS math teacher Hope Conover had just taken over as a StuCo adviser in 2011/12 and green-lit the fundraiser, consolidating other such efforts in recognition of breast cancer awareness month across the school system. Conover credits Kirby for presenting the idea to revolve around a sporting event. Kirby said a football game was just a natural fit, since the season garnered the largest crowds.

“Hope should take more credit because she was so good about supporting everything – she’s probably the most kind-hearted person,” Kirby stated. “If we had 500 ideas, she helped us get 499 done – in order to make a difference.”

A homemaker today, Kirby says her experiences with StuCo taught her a lot about planning, noting “even more so than some of my sit-down classes.”

In addition to school campuses throughout the district, businesses and individuals across town purchase pink T-shirts, with proceeds from the official gear supporting UCAN. For more information, contact the cancer treatment relief organization at 573-776-1892.

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Cutline: During the halftime show of the Pink-Out game on Friday, the Mules Cheerleaders perform a routine with pink pom poms. (Photo courtesy of LMannon Photography).