R.M.H.S. newspaper staff devoted to fight breast cancer

For the fourth year in a row, the staff of The Pacer, the student newspaper at Rolling Meadows High School, has done more than write about and cover Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The staff helps fight breast cancer.

The community service initiative is most noticed on the front page where The Pacer’s usual purple nameplate is pink. The same holds true for the sports nameplate on the back page.

The publication also features several articles about breast cancer and profiles about students whose families have been impacted by the disease.

“This is a great opportunity for the staff to give back to the community,” Pacer adviser Stan Zoller said. Staff members also participated in the Plant It Pink program offered through the Northwest Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and estimates they planted nearly 300 pink tulips along the school’s east side.

When that program was discontinued, the staff looked for another way to join in the fight against breast cancer. This year it participated in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at the AT&T Corporate campus in Hoffman Estates and raised nearly $500.

“We had great support from Pacer staff members, parents, faculty, staff and members of the community,” said Zoller.

“Having the opportunity to give back to the community is very important to myself and The Pacer staff, especially for such a great cause,” said co-editor Brittney Frazier, adding that breast cancer has greatly affected her family as well as many others. “So we want to do what we can to support the fight against it.”

Her colleague, Liam Brady, agreed.

“The Pacer is always looking to make a positive impact in the community, and we try to do so by supporting the fight against breast cancer,” Brady said. “It affects so many people and is a really important cause to us.”

The Pacer is published monthly by the journalism classes at Rolling Meadows High School. Its online edition can be found at RMHSPacer.com.