Avon Schools Plan 'Pink Out' Football Game to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

AVON, OH - October is breast cancer awareness month and the Avon School District wants to bring as much attention to the issue as possible. That's why the high school is planning a 'Pink Out' for the Oct. 21 home game against Berea-Midpark.

The Avon High School football team will wear special jerseys with pink numbers. The cheerleaders and band members will also wear pink items. Fans are encouraged to wear pink. The students will wear pink in the student sections. The Atheltic Department is currently selling pink T-shirts, with proceeds benefiting the Karen P. Nakon Foundation.

Karen Nakon was an Avon resident. She passed away from breast cancer on Feb. 22, 2003, her 38th birthday. Her children graduated from Avon High School. A foundation was created in her honor/memory to help those dealing with breast cancer.

Donations will also be collected at the football game for the Karen P. Nakon Foundation with donors receiving pink ribbons.

The school district is also rallying around Mary Jo Sustar, 50. Sustar was diagnosed with breast cancer in Nov. 2015. The diagnosis was Stage one estrogen and HER2 positive. Since then, Mary Jo has undergone chemo, radiation, and is still undergoing treatment of herceptin. Breast cancer runs in the family as three aunts on her dad's side and four first cousins on dad's side were diagnosed.

Sustar is the mother of senior football player Michael Sustar.

Prior to the football game, during the team's weekly meal Oct. 19, which will be supplied by the Sustar Family, a guest speaker from the Nakon Foundation will talk to the football players about why they are wearing pink and how breast cancer affects Avon families.

In addition to Michael, the Sustar's have two other children: Jason, 24, an Avon graduate who lives in Washington DC, and works as a computer engineer for Capital One; and daughter Madison, 20, is a junior at Kent State, studying fashion merchandising and media.

The Sustar Family have been huge supporters of the Avon Local Schools and the atheletic programs. Mary Jo is currently working to raise awareness for breast cancer and through her efforts, and the efforts of many in the school district, a host of events are planned this month.

Other schools throughout the district have also designated various days for students to wear pink to show support.

Image via Avon Schools