Her family and friends all agree that Riata Remund was gifted with a willing heart to serve others. In tribute to the legacy she leaves behind, Riata’s Ripple was formed as a means of letting her light continue to shine through acts of kindness and generosity toward others.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in honor of all who have fought or are still fighting breast cancer, fans and players of the South Loup Bobcats volleyball team decked out in pink Riata’s Ripple T-shirts during the Oct. 6 volleyball game in Arnold.

“We are using the hashtag #riatasripple as a representation of how one person’s life and decisions can have positive outward effects even after they are gone,” wrote her mom, Holly Hornung Remund on social media.

According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, it is estimated that among women in 2026 in the U.S., there will be 321,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer; 60,730 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer; and 42,140 breast cancer deaths. It is also estimated that 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 530 breast cancer deaths will occur in 2026 among American men.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and is the leading cause of cancer death among women in most countries in the world.

In 2023, the most recent data available, 69% of women in the U.S. ages 45 and older reported having a screening mammogram within the past year, and about 80% of women ages 50-74 had a screening mammogram in the past 2 years. Since 2010, the Affordable Care Act has required all new health insurance plans to cover screening mammograms with no co-payment. Health plans must cover screening mammography every 1-2 years for women 40 and older, and every year if recommended by a health care provider.

Breast cancer survival depends on a person’s diagnosis and treatment. A main factor in survival is breast cancer stage. People with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or early-stage invasive breast cancer have a better chance of survival than those with later-stage breast cancers.

Events like the South Loup “Pink Out” are intended to help raise awareness of the importance of routine screenings - of taking responsibility for your life and your health. There is no better way to create a positive ripple effect in our communities than to advocate for one another’s health and well-being.

So get your mammogram and regular health sreenings, and let’s all do our part to let Riata’s light live on.