Beyond the Pink: High school senior raising breast cancer research awareness

OHIO — For many, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to wear pink and raise money toward breast cancer research.

But for others, it provides a chance to take it a step further.

Addison Frazier’s mom died from metastatic breast cancer when she was just 6-years-old.

“She had fought since she found out she was pregnant with me, so breast cancer awareness not only means raising awareness for the people but also raising awareness for the families who are also in the fight,” said Frazier, a senior at Olentangy High School.

Frazier is a cheerleader who is working to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. 

“When I was little, I was just kind of thrown into therapies, and there wasn’t really a support group for the children affected. So that’s what I’m trying to create. It will be called ‘Linked by Hope,’” Frazier said.

Frazier is a scholar athlete, cheering football, basketball and competition. On top of that, every week she drives to Dayton to intern at an organization that’s closer to her heart, Pink Ribbon Good.

“It’s a wonderful nonprofit organization that provides services for people going through breast and gynecological cancer,” Frazier said.

Rachel Parrill, director of grants and foundations at Pink Ribbon Good, said Frazier brings something special to the group.

“To have Addi, who has lived through this unfortunately, really wanting now to help others in that same situation means so much. The perspective she brings is invaluable,” said Parrill.

All month long, players, fans and officials wear pink to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But Frazier wants people to know there’s more that needs to be done than just wearing the color. 

“Something that’s often missed with pink games, is sometimes people just wear pink and nothing else is done with it, but something special we’re doing here at Olentangy is we are working with a breast and gynecological cancer organization, to raise money and to continue to support the fight, not just by wearing pink, we’re actually doing something for the cause,” Frazier said.

Frazier said she’s raised $8,000 toward research to end the deadly disease, hoping that little by little, she can help others so they won’t have to grow up without a mom like she did. 

“Something that I’ve done that’s a little bit different is I don’t just email, I go into the place and I actually talk with the people and continue to show them my story, so they get more of an idea of why I need to raise this money,” Frazier said.