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Cancer Sisterhood
Women unite during breast cancer awareness month
There's a lot to be aware of in October, and I don't mean ghosts and goblins. Or maybe I do: There are the ghosts of the brave women lost to the struggle against breast cancer whose memories we honor during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And there are the goblins we stand against during what also happens to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The goal of both month-long campaigns is not only to be aware, but to bring an end to the scourge that causes millions of women to suffer or die every year. If March is Women's History Month, then October might as well be called Women's Future Month.
I'll have more to say about Domestic Violence Awareness Month tomorrow. There's so much to say about BCAM that the advice, admonitions, calls for action, and personal stories fill not only hundreds of blogs but dozens of websites. Here are a few of the best places you can look.
The biggest, most positively pinkalicious site is Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Its impressiveness lends credence to the organization's claim to being the "largest and most progressive network of survivors and activists."
There's Garth Brooks all over the top, the country star billed as the "fastest-selling solo artist in history," looking concerned and caring as he announces the release of a special Pink Edition of his greatest hits album to be sold exclusively through the Komen site (Wow! There's really Garth Brooks), with $10 of every sale going to Komen's research and awareness programs.
Brooks's album is not the only commodity on offer here; Komen is one of the most potent forces in cause marketing, with the organization's Promise Shop hawking goods every bit as enticing and very nearly as well stocked as Target. But along with the pink scarves, charm bracelets, Christmas ornaments, and travel mugs, you can find breast self-exam cards and breast cancer fact sheets and posters for practically every audience.
But there's no need to buy anything to take care of yourself. There's a flash video version of an online breast self-exam that you can grope along with for early detection and plenty of other helpful information. There's a message board for connecting with others and a helpline if you need a connection fast.
Then there's the Race for the Cure, the grandmammy of cancer runs, with a 5-K and a three-day, 60-mile option. This month alone, Komen has 37 5-K runs scheduled across the United States (and in Bologna, Italy) to raise funds for research for a cure.
"Without a cure," the site warns, "10 million people could die from breast cancer in the next 25 years."
This month, stop by any of the many sites dedicated to helping find that cure, make a donation, sign up for a race, or lobby your rep for a stronger federal commitment. Most important of all, cop a little feel, show up for your yearly mammogram, and protect yourself.
Celeste Fraser Delgado is the MOLI View's contributing editor for Worthy Causes.
I'll have more to say about Domestic Violence Awareness Month tomorrow. There's so much to say about BCAM that the advice, admonitions, calls for action, and personal stories fill not only hundreds of blogs but dozens of websites. Here are a few of the best places you can look.
The biggest, most positively pinkalicious site is Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Its impressiveness lends credence to the organization's claim to being the "largest and most progressive network of survivors and activists."
There's Garth Brooks all over the top, the country star billed as the "fastest-selling solo artist in history," looking concerned and caring as he announces the release of a special Pink Edition of his greatest hits album to be sold exclusively through the Komen site (Wow! There's really Garth Brooks), with $10 of every sale going to Komen's research and awareness programs.
Brooks's album is not the only commodity on offer here; Komen is one of the most potent forces in cause marketing, with the organization's Promise Shop hawking goods every bit as enticing and very nearly as well stocked as Target. But along with the pink scarves, charm bracelets, Christmas ornaments, and travel mugs, you can find breast self-exam cards and breast cancer fact sheets and posters for practically every audience.
But there's no need to buy anything to take care of yourself. There's a flash video version of an online breast self-exam that you can grope along with for early detection and plenty of other helpful information. There's a message board for connecting with others and a helpline if you need a connection fast.
Then there's the Race for the Cure, the grandmammy of cancer runs, with a 5-K and a three-day, 60-mile option. This month alone, Komen has 37 5-K runs scheduled across the United States (and in Bologna, Italy) to raise funds for research for a cure.
"Without a cure," the site warns, "10 million people could die from breast cancer in the next 25 years."
This month, stop by any of the many sites dedicated to helping find that cure, make a donation, sign up for a race, or lobby your rep for a stronger federal commitment. Most important of all, cop a little feel, show up for your yearly mammogram, and protect yourself.
Celeste Fraser Delgado is the MOLI View's contributing editor for Worthy Causes.
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