Pushing against cancer Published Dec. 3, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Jimmie D. Pike 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Push-Ups for a Cure competition and fundraiser returns for a second year and is slated Laughlin's Club XL, Dec 11. at 3 p.m. The contest was organized in 2012 by Airman 1st Class Matthew Booth, 47th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, and designed to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event is open to everyone and welcomes any support for the cause. For those wanting to participate, teams are made up of four people and the cost is $20 per team. All teams must register prior to the event. "Each team will have two minutes to do as many push-ups as possible," said Booth. "After two minutes the teams will add together the number of push-ups each person completed. The total is the team's final score." The top two teams last year won with 376 and 369 total push-ups to achieve the first and second places respectively. "Last year there were around 25 four-person-teams, and we raised a little more than $1,200," said Booth. "This year I'm looking to at least double the amount we will send to the National Breast Cancer Foundation." This is a great way to support breast cancer awareness because it incorporates push-ups, something we do regularly being in the military, and push-ups work out the muscles in the chest, explained Booth. "I came up with this idea last year to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by gathering funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation," said Booth. "My mother had a breast cancer scare in the past, and when that happened I started researching how serious the cancer can be and ways to prevent it. This has become a passion of mine and I hope to watch it grow into something bigger."