• This week’s football game between arch rivals Baldwin and Eudora high schools is also turning into a successful fundraiser for breast cancer research.

Since the start of the season, the cheer-leading squads from both schools have been selling pink bracelets and soliciting donations to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign. The squads have turned it into a friendly competition to see which can raise the most money.

As of Monday afternoon, the Baldwin squad was ahead, $1,059.60 to $720.26. But insiders say Baldwin got a boost this past weekend during the town’s Maple Leaf Festival.

The fundraising campaign was the idea of Allen Jaskiewicz, sales manager at Dale Willey Automotive in Lawrence.

Jaskiewicz noted that General Motors is a flagship sponsor of the Making Strides campaign. Each GM dealership was asked to come up with a local activity to help raise money. And since his daughter Victor is captain of the Baldwin cheer squad, he thought involving them would be a good idea.

During the game, players from both schools will wear pink shoelaces. And cheerleaders on both sides will have pink bracelets and ribbons.

The cheer squads will also have pink buckets at the gates as they try to round up last-minute donations.

Then on Saturday, Oct. 27, the two squads will join as a single team in the 5K walk/run for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Kansas City, Mo.

The game is at 7 p.m. Thursday at Eudora. Gates will open early at 5:30 p.m. in anticipation of a big crowd.

• Do you have school-related news you’d like to share with the community. Call me at 832-7259, or email phancock@ljworld.com.