From the tops of their pink bows to the bottoms of their pink-laced tennis shoes, cheerleaders at Andalusia High School are ready to fight against breast cancer by “cheering for a cure.”

Kandise Finley, clinical coordinator at LBW Community College, lost her mother to breast cancer and has worked for years to raise awareness about the dreaded disease.

“The numbers are staggering – breast cancer is a disease that affects 4 in every 1,000 women in their 30s,” she said. “This number rises dramatically as age increases.

“With the increasing prevalence of breast cancer, inevitably someone you know has been touched by the disease,” she said. “Such is the case with the Andalusia High School varsity cheerleaders. In order to raise awareness for the horrific disease and to be active in breast cancer awareness in October, the AHS Varsity Cheerleaders wanted to ‘go pink,’ and I think they’ve done a great job.”

Finley said throughout the month, the cheerleaders will be cheering on the Bulldogs with pink pom-poms, wearing pink hair bows and shoelaces, breast cancer ribbon face tattoos and throwing pink koozies to the crowd.

With donations from Dr. Tara Harden, Andalusia Regional Hospital, The Sport’s Shoppe, and Boggs and Boulders ATV Park, the cheerleaders will be able to accomplish their mission.

The girls will make their pink debut Friday in the game against Straughn.

On Oct. 14, the cheerleaders will sponsor a “pink day” at AHS, when all students and faculty are encouraged to show their support and wear pink.