These middle school students helped raise money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute through a “Think Pink” dance held on Friday. From left are Taylor Addeo, Katie Luchowski, Bailey Saskowski, Elizabeth Visco, Nicole Legler, Porscha Colville, Madelyn Rominger and Monae Pouliot. On Feb. 10, the Orchard Park Middle School Student Council hosted a “Think Pink” dance to raise cancer awareness.

All of the proceeds from the dance will be going to Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The idea for the dance was student-driven, but middle school teachers and the PTO helped, too.

Sixth-grader Emma Tryon came to Assistant Principal Kimberly Cirillo with an idea to raise money and promote cancer awareness.

Her friend’s brother recently died of cancer. She wanted to bring attention to this issue and raise money for Roswell. They went to the Student Council and decided to hold a Think Pink dance.

The dance was planned and advertised by the middle school students. A committee was developed to make posters to advertise the event. Tickets were sold for $2. Middle school students Morgan Jones, Alyssa Piniewski and Amber Piniewski made pens, wallets, bracelets, purses and flowers out of duct tape and sold them to raise money.

The girls raised $200, all of which will be donated. Community members also got involved. Cappelli’s Pizzeria donated $250, and The Big Tree Inn donated $250.

These donations, along with the proceeds from the dance itself, added up to $1,060 from the middle school students’ efforts.