Clark student leads his school in support of cancer cure
Freddy Ortega, a Clark High School junior, wears the T-shirt he designed to support breast cancer awareness. (Photograph courtesy of Michelle Kominsky.)
The National Football League’s decision to designate October’s games as American Breast Cancer Awareness games scored big with Freddy Ortega, 16.
Ortega has two aunts who are breast cancer survivors and always wears a pink wristband to show his support for them. He liked how the NFL and its teams promoted breast cancer awareness messages with pre-game and in-stadium initiatives and by having coaches and staff personnel and players wear pink ribbons and pink uniform gear.
So after the game, the George Rogers Clark High School student headed to town. He went into The Junk Yard to see if there was something there in line with the cause. Within a few moments, he decided to customize a shirt. He chose a royal blue T-shirt—Clark’s color—and had the initials of his school, ‘GRS’, printed on the upper right collar. Below the letters he added ‘class of 2011.’ In the center, he had the word ‘Supports’ printed next to a pink ribbon twisted in the shape of a heart.
“When I wore it to school the next day, it was a big hit,” Ortega said. “Everyone loved them, faculty and students. I thought they were playing around at first, I had butterflies,” he said. “But I said if you’re behind me, ‘let’s go for it.’”
George Rogers Clark High School raised $630 to support the breast cancer awareness, which was led by one of its students, Freddy Ortega, holding check at left. Ortega designed a T-shirt and took orders to support the cancer research fund. Students and staff gather to present the check last week. (Photograph courtesy of Raymond Noldin.)
Ortega took orders for the shirts and the printer offered discounts so 100 percent of the proceeds can go to breast cancer research. The school raised $630, which was presented Oct. 28.
“My goal is to see everyone walking around with T-shirts showing their support. No woman or man should suffer, there should be a cure.
“When I was a baby, I needed two (blood) transfusions in order to survive. Someone donated to me and helped me survive and in return, I want to give back. I strongly support the cure for breast cancer foundation.”
The son of Melinda Rivera, of Hammond, and a junior at Clark, Ortega is a wrestler and last year’s recipient of the coveted Pioneer Pride Award.
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