October fills the imagination with images of orange, crimson, yellow, and…pink! Thanks to the marketing efforts of many breast cancer awareness organizations, pink has become as synonymous with October as other traditional fall colors. Breast cancer awareness month was first recognized in 1985 and has steadily grown into one of the most lucrative and important cancer fundraising efforts.
With 1 in 8 women facing a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, nearly everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way. Whether it’s your mother, sister, aunt or friend, no one is immune from this widespread disease. While significant efforts have been made to predict women at higher risks of contracting this disease, “about 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.”
And it’s not just women who are impacted by breast cancer. Breastcancer.org estimates as many as “2,650 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2021.” The need for breast cancer awareness is as necessary today as it was decades ago.
There are plenty of ways to help make a difference from raising money to helping women find screening, you can contribute to the fight against the most common cancer globally. Here are several ways you can help raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
Get Involved
Whether you are looking to get involved as an individual or as a small business, there are plenty of ways to lend a helping hand.
Support a Breast Cancer Organization
The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. is an excellent resource for all kinds of information on breast cancer. Here you can get answers and help if you, or a loved one, are diagnosed with breast cancer. Here you can also find information about how to get involved in the cause. As an individual, you can make a monetary donation or become a community ambassador and volunteer. If you own a small business, you can partner with NBCF to organize fundraisers or donation drives.
Other popular charities that tirelessly work to bring breast cancer awareness and help to those who need it include: Susan G. Komen Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, American Cancer Society, and Breastcancer.org.
Each of these organizations will help you make an impact and make a real difference in the fight against breast cancer from helping those currently in treatment, to contributing to ongoing research, to helping organize events, there is plenty of work to be done.
Sponsor a Sporting Event
If you prefer to make an impact closer to home, you can help sponsor a local sporting event. Many youth sports leagues are happy to support a good cause by holding raffles during games, donating a portion of sales from snack shacks, or even outfitting teams with pink socks, ribbons, buttons, or even baseball caps. Buying these items wholesale with DollarDays is a great way to ensure you keep the focus on getting raising money to donate.
For a super simple additional fundraising idea, you could put out a breast cancer donation jar near the ticket counter as patrons enter the stadium, field, or court. Local communities love rallying around a cause and organizing a fundraiser around a sporting event is a great way to bring everyone together for a worthy cause.
Host Your Own Event
If a sporting event is not your style, consider hosting some other type of event. This does not have to be anything too time-consuming or overly complex. You could simply put breast cancer clothing donation bins outside schools or local retailers. Many organizations like Breast Cancer Solutions use clothing donations to help raise funds for research.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation is a great place to start if you’re looking to host an event or DIY your fundraising. They can help you through every step of the process from deciding which type of event to host to helping you plan each step. Whatever event you choose, be sure to browse DollarDays selection of pink and breast cancer awareness-themed table covers, photo/balloon holders, and pink ribbon bands to make the most of your event.
Donate
Monetary donations are always useful. You can choose the type of donation you’d like to make from one-time donations, to annually, to yearly. Most breast cancer organizations allow you to make a donation in a loved ones’ name or choose where you’d like your money to go (research, home care, support during treatment, etc.).
Some particularly useful donations include breast cancer prosthesis donations, gas cards, gift cards, and donations from local restaurants. Those in the midst of treatments will appreciate any of these thoughtful donations.
Medical News Today has an extensive list of charities and the types of donations they are looking for. This resource can help you narrow your efforts and plan more effectively.
Wear Pink
Another easy and effective way to help raise breast cancer awareness is by wearing pink throughout the month of October. Be intentional and be bold with your choices. As the weather gets cooler, there are tons of opportunities to add a pop of pink to your wardrobe —scarves, hats, and gloves are great ways to show your pink.
Buying wholesale goods will give you items to share with friends and family to make an even greater impact. DollarDays stocks several cute and practical breast cancer awareness-themed items like flip flops, masks, and fun beaded necklaces.
Every thirteen minutes a woman dies from breast cancer. This is thirteen women too many. With a little bit of effort and some advanced planning, you can make a big difference in helping to raise awareness, money, or helping those in need. There are several effective and active organizations that are ready to work with you to help women all over the U.S. and the globe, fight against these horrific diseases.
DollarDays is eager to help you fight against breast cancer whether it’s providing you quality goods to help organize a fundraiser or help raise awareness, we are committed to helping you make a difference in your community.
Source: https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2019/10/03/infographic-breast-cancer
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/fullpage/breast-cancer-key-facts-figures-infographic-20310340