CHAMPAIGN Ill. (WCIA) — Volunteers in Champaign County cleaned for a cause Sunday morning. Their mission? Raising money for breast cancer research.

The American Cancer Society picked up litter after the Illini football game in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“They sent us a note and said, ‘We’re looking for volunteers. Would you be interested? Here are a list of dates.’ And I said, ‘Let’s do October!'” Sharla Jolly, the senior development manager for American Cancer Society, said.

At 7 a.m. on Sunday, they were wearing pink shirts and pink gloves.

“There are a group of us, about thirty of us, including students, who decided that we would come out and sort of raise awareness by wearing pink, and then raise funds from the University,” Jolly said.

The University of Illinois is paying groups $1,000 to do it. For many of the volunteers there, they’ve seen someone they love fight breast cancer.

“I’ve had friends who have gone through that struggle, many are still survivors, but it’s just tough. We don’t want to see them take that journey,” Jolly said.

Paul Conforti, one of the volunteers, has gone through a similar experience.

“I recently lost a partner, a sister, a friend… just a wonderful person to breast cancer,” Conforti said.

His wife lost her battle with breast cancer this year.

“Research kept Susan alive for quite a few years, but a lot more research needs to be done,” Conforti shared.

He saw first-hand how research has transformed therapies for those battling breast cancer, not only lengthening lives, but improving their quality of life with the disease.

“So, that’s where the research comes in… making what we have now, better for tomorrow. And we do research tomorrow to make things better for the future,” Conforti said.

In the past decade, the American Cancer Society said that there’s been a 44% decline in the number of woman who are dying from breast cancer. However, they’ve also found that only one in three women are getting mammograms.

Jolly said that one of the volunteers at the event on Sunday is a member of the Men Wear Pink. They also raise money and awareness for breast cancer. A link to donate can be found on their website.