How to Honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October

It’s time to go pink: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Charities are teaming up with women across theU.S.to raise awareness of the disease, fight for a cure and provide support to affected families.

According to the American Cancer Society, even though breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American women, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the country today. And that’s the message being sent out to all ladies not just in October, but all year long: There is hope! With regular breast exams, mammograms and early-detection screenings, tens of thousands of breast cancer cases can be prevented each year.

Whether you want to rally your friends and raise money for the cause, or pitch in your own time or money to support your favorite organization, there are plenty of ways you can honor the promising spirit of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here’s how you can make your mark:

Fundraise

Participating in a charity event is one of the most popular—and empowering—ways to raise money for breast cancer research. Gather the support of friends and family members, make new friends, and spread the inspiration throughout your neighborhood. Lots of organizations sponsor breast cancer awareness walks. Pick the one that fits you best, or join all of them! Here are three to get you started:

• Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
• Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

Volunteer

If you prefer to be out in the frontlines in the battle against breast cancer, you can make a difference by volunteering your time. You can partner with one of many organizations to help give emotional support to women who have been diagnosed, or provide educational resources about preventing the disease. These three volunteer programs are great options to consider during National Breast Cancer Awareness month:

• National Breast Cancer Foundation Outreach Volunteer Program
• American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery Program
• Look Good Feel Better Program

Donate

Don’t have much time to volunteer or walk for a cure? You can donate to the cause by purchasing products you love. Many companies like 1800Flowers.com and General Mills give proceeds to charity every time you buy their National Breast Cancer Awareness Month merchandise. Or, you can even make a speedy online donation by visiting one of these organizations’ websites:

• National Breast Cancer Foundation
• BreastCancer.org
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Avon Foundation for Women
• American Cancer Society

How will you get involved in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month?