Pitman High School English teacher Joni Busby can personally testify that kissing a pig is not as bad as it might seem. However according to Busby, it did not hurt that she did the oink-worthy task all for the school’s Kiss the Pig Contest, which benefitted the American Cancer Society of Modesto.

“It was actually fun,” confessed Busby after kissing the pig, who was charmingly named Elsa.

Sponsored by PHS’s Future Farmers of America, students voted penny by penny for which teacher would be given the swine opportunity of kissing the pig. Unfortunately for Busby, the contest’s actual winner, Ruben Modesto, was absent for the day, leaving the English teacher with the ultimate responsibility of kissing Elsa.

Agriculture teacher Nicole Silveira assured everyone that Modesto did not actually escape the kiss with his absence during the event, since he will be responsible for kissing the pig on Friday.

PHS’s contributions to breast cancer awareness did not end with kissing the pig, as the school invited students to participate in additional activities that benefitted a good cause.

For every student and staff member that wore pink at the school’s annual Think Pink Dress Up Day, PHS donated 25 cents to the ACS of Modesto. Students were also able to fulfill community service obligations by decorating and filling a water bottle full of coins, the contents of which were donated to benefit cancer research.

With the combined funds from all three activities, PHS raised approximately $200 for ACS of Modesto.

“These funds don’t just go towards breast cancer awareness,” said Silveira. “Cancer has affected so many and our school is all about supporting them.”