By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

While a popular song touts Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year, I have to politely disagree. To me, the turn of the season from green to gold highlights the best nature has to offer.

Last fall, I saw Shelby County municipalities rally around a singular cause during the month of October: Breast cancer research. Now, however, I watch in admiration as the cities and towns kick into high gear, gunning to outdo last year’s donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama.

The BCRFA provides seed money for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center to receive grant dollars, which help the people of Alabama.

The city of Calera raised more than $17,000 through T-shirt and pink ribbon sales, as well as a golf tournament for the cause.

This year’s fundraising will officially kick off Sept. 27 with the Calera High Eagles taking on the Shelby County Wildcats on Calera’s home turf at 7 p.m.

Participating Calera businesses are also selling chance-to-win tickets for services and products donated by local businesses. Calera Goes Pink 2 golf tournament will tee off at Timberline Golf Club Oct. 29, and golfers must be registered by Oct. 19.

In an attempt to “black out” breast cancer, Chelsea firefighters and citizens will don black T-shirts throughout the next month in support of breast cancer awareness. Black T-shirts are still available for purchase at the Chelsea Fire Station and Chelsea businesses for $15.

Chelsea residents plan to black out the Chelsea High School football stadium Oct. 19 in the Hornets’ battle against Pelham.

Alabaster, Helena and Hoover fire departments are also selling T-shirts to benefit the BCRFA.

Kate Kiefer, vice president of the BCRFA board, shared promising statistics about the fight against breast cancer.

Kiefer said one out of every eight women will get breast cancer. Thirty years ago, four out of every five people who were diagnosed with breast cancer died from the disease. Today, only one in five pass away.

Although the statistics are improving, breast cancer research still has a long way to go.

I encourage you to participate in supporting breast cancer research this month. Many municipalities are holding events, but even if yours isn’t, it may be time to start your own tradition.

For more information about the BCRFA, visit Bcrfa.org.

Christine Boatwright is a staff writer with the Shelby County Reporter. She can be reached at christine.boatwright@shelbycountyreporter.com.