Before the storm ended the game early on Thursday, the stands at Johnson High School’s football game against Central Catholic were filled with pink. It was the first “Pink Out” game in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The athletic department furnished bright pink socks for all the players, the cheerleaders used pink poms and the Jaguar mascot and the visiting Chick Fil A cow were decked out in pink. But for one student, the game was an opportunity to honor the memory of his mother while playing the game he loves. Wide receiver Joshua Blalock, along with his father Jack and step-mom Heather wore shirts in memory of Aana Elsen Blalock who fought a valiant battle against breast cancer.
“Aana lost her battle but she will never be forgotten,” Heather Gray Blalock said. “Our family understands the importance of remembrance.”
Heather’s first husband, Major David Gray, was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2012. She and Air Force Colonel Jack Blalock were married in 2016 and are raising their six children in Buda.
“Together we remember Aana and will continue to support efforts like this that aid research for a cure,” she said. "So many of our friends are currently in their own fight against this killer and we wear pink for them as well.”
Johnson won the game 6-3 and Joshua dedicated the victory to his mother.
