Congratulations are in order once again to the Austin Bruins.

As the kickoff to the second annual Paint the Town Pink, the Bruins hold a special place in this fundraiser. It was our hometown hockey team that started an organized event to raise money for breast cancer research two years ago, and they’re just as involved in giving back today.

The Bruins raised more than $34,000 last Saturday during the team’s third annual Paint the Rink Pink event according to preliminary numbers, exceeding its first year total of $22,000 and almost matching last year’s total of $38,000 raised. It’s a testament not only to the team’s willingness to raise awareness for a good cause but to the community’s willingness to give to The Hormel Institute.

And that’s the important thing about this week: Our willingness as a community to give to those in need. The Austin Daily Herald is chock full of stories highlighting important causes throughout the community on any given day, but as Paint the Town Pink organizers like to point out, cancer is one thing that affects all of us. Cancer was the second leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it’s true every one of us knows or has heard of a loved one affected by cancer. It’s an important battle to fight, and an important cause to raise awareness for. So give thanks to the Bruins for leading Austin in this year’s endeavor to raise funds and awareness to fight cancer.