In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Panther Valley cheerleaders are raising money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to in the fight against breast cancer.

The teams join other cheerleading squads from around the country in doing charity work as part of the America Needs Cheerleaders program, designed by Universal Cheerleaders Association this year to encourage cheerleading programs to begin or continue to donate time and money to charities as well as foster school and community spirit. The PV cheerleaders are also selling Think Pink Links.People can write messages or breast cancer victims' or survivors' names on the links, and the links will be connected and looped around the Panther Valley football field during the game against Marian on Friday, October 8. At that game, children who participated in PV's Youth Cheer Camp on October 2nd will be invited to cheer for the third and part of the fourth quarter with the pink poms they received at the camp, and all cheerleaders will be wearing pink ribbons in their hair.The cheerleaders are also selling pink t-shirts that read "Think Pink: Cheering for a Cure." The t-shirts are available in child and adult sizes.Links can be purchased from any Panther Valley cheerleader as well as several area businesses, and t-shirts, links, and other pink items will be available for sale at the Marian game. All profits from both the links and the shirts will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.Last year the cheerleaders raised $2,960 dollars for the Angel 34 Foundation, which helps children with cancer and their families, and they also donated $250 to the American Cancer Society. They are planning a large fundraiser for ACS later this year as well.