Throughout October, the Caldwell County School system will celebrate survivors, honor the fallen and raise funds to help find a cure for breast cancer.

As part of a nationwide celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, faculty, staff and students are doing their part to help those who are battling one of the most common forms of cancer. They have created race teams, organized assemblies and plan to send proceeds from their monthly fund-raising to the N.C. Foothills Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Granite Falls Middle School kicked off the festivities with an assembly Monday. The event, which featured a pep rally with the school cheerleaders, also told the story of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.

Paula Barnette said she grew up living a pretty healthy life. She exercised on a regular basis, ate plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, didn't drink or smoke and cutout red meat completely from her diet. Knowing that breast cancer was common among several of her family members, Barnette said she tried to take every precaution she could.

However, nothing prepared her for the news the doctor gave her back in February 2006.

She said doctors found a lump in her breast, but they were sure it was contained. Unable to accept it as a realty, Barnette said it took her more than a month to share her diagnosis with others. She said she always has been a private person, but Barnette quickly discovered that battling cancer wasn't something she could do on her own.

"I came in contact with many people and word spread quickly about my condition," Barnette told the students. "Many people wanted to share their personal stories with me, but I learned that I would have to write my own story."

When she went in for surgery, doctors assured her that removing the lump would remove the cancer, and she thought her life would return to normal. However, her life was changed dramatically when doctors told her within days of her surgery that the cancer had spread. Barnette tried to remain strong, telling herself that everything would be OK, But the effects of her treatment began to take a toll.

"I had no idea what was in store for me," Barnette told the students about her struggles with returning to work so quick. "I learned to schedule my treatments for Friday because they made me so weak. I often crawled to the bathroom because I was unable to walk. When I began losing my hair, that was a huge obstacle in my life, so I actually decided to cut if all off."

Barnette said she planned a cookout and let each of her friends help cut her hair. She said each time she watched another strand fall to the ground, her eyes would swell up with tears. It was a very difficult time in her life, but now she has focused her energies on never giving up.

"Life is too short and too sweet," Barnette said. "Never give up hope because with hope, anything is possible."

Monday's assembly was just the beginning of a month long celebration at GFMS. Faculty, staff and students will wear pink each Friday in October, and a school dance will be Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Members of the school's Beta Club, Student Council and Future Business Leaders of America will be selling pink ribbon pins, pink bracelets and pink ribbon hair bows through Oct. 20.

In addition, grade level teams individually are sponsoring theme baskets, which will be auctioned off during Parent Conference Day from 3:15 - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 in the school media center. The baskets will be part of a silent auction and feature the themes of football, Madison Bumgarner, cooking, spa treatments and various restaurant gift cards.

School officials said their goal is to raise $2,000.

For more information about any of these events, contact Granite Falls Middle School at 396-2341.

Other schools hosting activities this month include:

* Whitnel Elementary School will have a team at Saturday's Race for the Cure event at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

* West Caldwell High School has designated Friday, Oct. 9 as "Wear Pink Day." The Warrior family will be wearing pink during the school day and at the football game that night.

* South Caldwell High School has designated Monday, Oct. 5 through Friday, Oct. 9 as "Think Pink" Week. Events include "Volley for the Cure" during today's volleyball match against Watauga, Buffalo Wild Wings nights today and Tuesday, Oct., 20. On those nights, 10 percent of South Caldwell food purchases will go toward the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. In addition, FBLA members will sell various items, and a team has been assembled for Saturday's Race for the Cure.

* Hudson Elementary School will have Breast Cancer Awareness Day Tuesday, Oct. 13. Faculty, staff and students will be wearing pink, and the faculty will have "Pink Walk" that day from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

* Sawmills Elementary School's running club will participate in Saturday's Race for the Cure.

* Oak Hill School hosted Breast Cancer Awareness Day Friday, Oct. 2. Everyone wore pink or breast cancer warrior shirts as the school honored Gail Cutts, a faculty member who died this summer after battling cancer.

* Davenport A+ School will host "Pink and Denim" day Friday. Oct. 9. Staff members can pay $5 to wear jeans that day, and students can donate any amount and have a pink ribbon with their name on it displayed on the bulletin board in the commons area.

For a complete list of activities, parents should contact their child's school.

* Baton Elementary will observe "Pink Day" on Friday, Oct. 23 and will have a team walking during Saturday's Race for the Cure.