When September turns to October, you know that means: it’s Pink Out time. 

At Watson Field, where the football team will play Westchester October 7, the pink comes out. The Mighty Gondolier Marching Band’s regular shoe laces are changed to pink ones and Color Guard’s flag silks are changed to have a breast cancer awareness flag. The Sports Med team even wraps football players in pink athletic tape, and the stands are filled with people outfitted in pink.  

Pink Out is the tradition started by the former Sports Medicine teacher Kirsten Farrell. Now led by current Sports Medicine teacher Jason Noonan, the event raises money by selling shirts and hoodies to donate to that year’s local charity to fight for breast cancer. 

The charity for this year is Boarding for Breast Cancer, a non-profit focused on educating young people on early detection, raising awareness for breast cancer, and providing support for breast cancer survivors, through surf, skate and snow events year-round. 

Community School Coordinator David Lee, who has been part of Pink Out at Venice since its beginning, said that the event has changed a lot over the years. 

“The tradition started with Pink Out shirts, and the tradition has grown since and evolved into an online store,” he said.  

According to senior Rhianna Pajares, the Sports Medicine team captain, this year’s t-shirt design and slogans are inspired by the return of Grease Night and the film that inspired it. 

One of Grease’s stars, Olivia Newton- John, recently passed away from a long battle with breast cancer, too.

 “We thought she’d be the perfect symbol this year, because she did die from breast cancer,” Pajares said.  

Noonan said that he is excited that Pink Out and Grease Night are happening together again. The slogan “Pink Lightning” and “Hopelessly Devoted to Finding a Cure” are on this year’s design.