UPDATE: While the peer counseling class only sold cupcakes during the lunch period, they netted over $150 and donated the proceeds to the Pregnancy Care Center, Oct. 10.

While cupcakes are often considered an unhealthy snack, peer counseling plans to sell “Cupcakes for Life” in order to benefit the community, Oct. 9. Each cupcake sold for $.50 represents the birthday an aborted child will never celebrate.

“The idea of cupcakes physically representing a child that was never allowed to be born will personalize the issue more,” Molly Sargent, peer counseling teacher, said.

Over 30 students from the peer counseling classes baked 12 dozen cupcakes to sell at lunch. All proceeds will go to the Pregnancy Care Center, which helps counsel and give pregnant women alternative options to abortion.

“I think it’s great that the Pregnancy Care Center gives other options for moms considering abortion,” Melissa O’Leary, ’10, said, “and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Acorrding to the Cupcakes for Life Web site, over 50 million children have been aborted in the U.S. Over 1.3 million were aborted in 2004.

“Probably the biggest reason that I wanted to sponsor this activity is to depoliticize abortion,” Sargent said. “I think often we look at it as a issue rather than a life-altering experience.”

The cupcake sale will help to raise awareness about the organization, as well as to raise money.

“I found out about Cupcakes For Life at Spirit West Coast because there was a booth set up that had information on it,” Jenn Boudreau, ’10, said. “I believe it is good to make people aware about the issue of abortion. I think that cupcake day helps illustrate it in a way that shows people that every aborted baby doesn’t get to celebrate their birthday.”

For more information, contact the national Pregnancy Care Center at (1-800) 495-1755 or the local clinic at (559) 237-0683 or e-mail Sargent. The Fresno Pregnancy Care Center is located at 169 N. Clark, Fresno, CA 93701.