• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Gullett Gators take up the fight in Lakewood Ranch

Gullett Elementary School has pink out day to support teacher battling breast cancer.


  • By Liz Ramos
  • | 4:30 p.m. October 1, 2019
  • East County
  • News
  • Share

As B.D. Gullett Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body made her way through the hallways of the school, she was surrounded by pink.

The students, teachers and staff of the school dressed in pink Oct. 1 to show support for Body, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018. 

"The support has been tremendous," Body said. "Just having that support has been the only thing that's gotten me through some of the not-so-good days."

Besides wearing pink, some students and teachers dyed their hair pink or had breast cancer awareness ribbons temporarily written or tattooed on them. The PTO also wrote encouraging messages like "hope, "you've got this" and "we are in this together" in chalk on the sidewalk leading to the entrance of the school.

"We're a family here, so we wanted to rally around to support her," said Toni Schroer, assistant principal.

Students, teachers and staff will continue to wear pink every Tuesday throughout October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in support of Body who will undergo a sixth chemotherapy treatment at the end of October.

Fourth-grade teachers Lee Anne Durkee, Sarah Body and Danielle Herrmann join Chompy, the mascot,. Body was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018.
Fourth-grade teachers Lee Anne Durkee, Sarah Body and Danielle Herrmann join Chompy, the mascot,. Body was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018.
Fourth-grader Jordyn Forest gives a pink bracelet she made to fourth grade teacher Sarah Body. Forest said she wanted to do something nice for Body, so she made the bracelet.
Fourth-grader Jordyn Forest gives a pink bracelet she made to fourth grade teacher Sarah Body. Forest said she wanted to do something nice for Body, so she made the bracelet.
Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body stands by a chalk drawing that leads to the entrance of B.D. Gullett Elementary School. The PTO drew the messages like
Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body stands by a chalk drawing that leads to the entrance of B.D. Gullett Elementary School. The PTO drew the messages like "you've got this" and "we are in this together" to show support for Body.
The PTO created chalk drawings to share messages of support for fourth grade teacher Sarah Body. The drawings are on the sidewalk leading up to the entrance of the school.
The PTO created chalk drawings to share messages of support for fourth grade teacher Sarah Body. The drawings are on the sidewalk leading up to the entrance of the school.
Fourth-graders Anna Kayan and Hannah Wilk dressed in pink. Kayan said she wanted to
Fourth-graders Anna Kayan and Hannah Wilk dressed in pink. Kayan said she wanted to "go all pink" with her clothing, cat ears and streak of pink in her hair.
Fourth-graders Vanessa Vazquez, Jayson Franklin, Ashlyn Withers, Jordyn Forest and Elizabeth Suggs all wear pink.
Fourth-graders Vanessa Vazquez, Jayson Franklin, Ashlyn Withers, Jordyn Forest and Elizabeth Suggs all wear pink.
Although Michael Smolka isn't a student of fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body, he had breast cancer awareness ribbons drawn on his arms and face to support her.
Although Michael Smolka isn't a student of fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body, he had breast cancer awareness ribbons drawn on his arms and face to support her.
Lex Duis, Anthony Spino and Aryan Aguilera dyed their hair pink and dressed in pink. Spino also had breast cancer awareness ribbons painted on the sides of his head.
Lex Duis, Anthony Spino and Aryan Aguilera dyed their hair pink and dressed in pink. Spino also had breast cancer awareness ribbons painted on the sides of his head.
PTO member Julia Fitzpatrick walks outside with Chompy, B.D. Gullet Elementary School's mascot, decked out in pink before getting into the formation of a ribbon for an aerial photo.
PTO member Julia Fitzpatrick walks outside with Chompy, B.D. Gullet Elementary School's mascot, decked out in pink before getting into the formation of a ribbon for an aerial photo.
Students wrote messages on hearts and posted them as decorations.
Students wrote messages on hearts and posted them as decorations.
Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, said she couldn't have asked for a better class as they continue to support her while she undergoes treatments.
Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Body, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, said she couldn't have asked for a better class as they continue to support her while she undergoes treatments.

 

Latest News

Sarasota City Attorney Joe Polzak and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs during a meeting of the Sarasota City Commission.
  • December 5, 2025
Sarasota charter official evaluations begin this month
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
  • December 4, 2025
You'd better watch out: Tow-away zones set for Sarasota holiday parade
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
Sarasota Police Department personnel monitor Sarasota's network of cameras, license plate readers, gunshot detectors and other devices in the nearly completed Real-Time Operations Center.
  • December 4, 2025
SPD set to grow its city camera system

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in News

CEO Mike Bisaha says the new equipment will at least triple Big Top Brewing Co.'s beer production.
  • December 3, 2025
Big Top to open expanded brew house at Sarasota's Fruitville Commons
Marine Corps veteran Dale Cole lives in Greenfield Plantation and is a regular user of Manatee Moves.
  • December 3, 2025
Ride service for Manatee County veterans is on the move
Commissioners George Kruse and Bob McCann are on opposite sides of the AAA High School vote. Kruse voted in favor of approving the site plan, and McCann voted to deny the site plan.
  • December 3, 2025
Manatee commissioners have final say about new school but no real power
Manatee County is getting its first landfill-to-renewable natural gas facility, a $50M project led by Nopetro Energy.
  • December 2, 2025
Energy company plans to convert Manatee landfill waste gas into fuel
Construction on the Athletics and Aquatics Center is underway at Premier Sports Campus North.
  • November 25, 2025
No hotel at Premier Sports — yet
Instead of a ribbon, a 180-pound blue fin tuna will be cut to celebrate the grand opening of Kuro Sushi.
  • November 22, 2025
Kuro Sushi rolls into Lakewood Ranch

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now