Today we are flooding the top picture section of Lincoln Daily News with six pictures of groups showing support for our Cancer Warriors through the Pink Shirt Campaign.

These groups include the counter staff at the Lincoln Post Office, members of the Logan County Board, Staff at Midwest Dental, staff at Springfield Clinic in Lincoln, staff and residents of Vonderlieth in Mt. Pulaski, and members of the Pink Pumpkin Committee.

We want to draw your attention to that Pink Pumpkin Committee picture. Pictured are from the left Nila Smith, Angela Reiners, Karen Castelein, Devyn VanSlambrouck, Cindy Guyett, Joli Boerma Crane, and Annie Coers. Committee member Jennifer Luckhart was absent for the photo.

The committee wants to thank everyone in the community who showed their support for the annual fundraiser by donating items to be auctioned and those who came out to bid and buy those items. At the end of the night, the live auction, silent auction raffle, and luminaria sales brought in more than $33,000 for the American Cancer Society.

We also want to review the numbers. One of the eight members is absent. That correlates to a vital cancer statistic. One in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Those are not great odds. To be a survivor, early detection is key. So be sure to do those monthly self-exams, go for your annual mammograms, pay attention to your breast appearance, and consult your doctor if you see or feel changes in your breast. Not every issue will be cancer related, but it is better to be safe than sorry, and the sooner you catch the problem, the greater your chances of a full recovery will be.

LDN