As many of you already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And as a breast cancer survivor I am asking you to make sure to THINK BEFORE YOU PINK!
Recently there have been a number of news reports and print articles alerting the public to the abuse of pink ribbons on products and how much of the purchase price of those products actually benefits breast cancer research or related initiatives.
Recently I read a solicitation in a local paper offering the opportunity to pay tribute to those whose lives have been lost or those who continue to battle with breast cancer.
The fee which the newspaper says will “show your support for a cure” is $20.
As someone with a sincere interest in pink ribbon initiatives, I called the local office for more information. I asked which research or support group would benefit from the monies collected.
The local office was unable to answer that question. They referred me to the newspaper’s corporate office in Amsterdam.
When I called the corporate office, I was told the money collected would be going nowhere. No donation of any size would be made to any breast cancer-related charity. The money was being kept by the newspaper.
So under the guise of finding a cure, the newspaper is soliciting money for its own gain.
As a cancer patient, I and many others have first-hand knowledge of the huge expense of fighting cancer and the knowledge of how far $20 can go. When you do your research you will find that $20 can help in the funding of mammograms, cancer drugs, travel exenses to and from treatments, and much more.
If you have an extra $20 to simply see a name in print, I urge you to consider making a more meaningful tribute—one where your donation will support research or directly help a cancer patient.
And to spotlight a loved one’s name, consider supporting fundraising efforts like the ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk’ or the ‘Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.’
In the Strides Walk I wear the names of those I love and lost, and the names of those I honor for winning the battle.
In the Avon Walk my names were seen for 40 miles over two days by thousands of people. Those names are also worn at the Relay for Life.
When $20 is given to a legitimate organization, you will not only see a name in print, but you will actually be helping in the fight to find the cure.
Other groups to consider are the smaller grass roots organizations in your area. Smaller groups, such as the Pink Ribbon Riders, raise funds that go directly to the patient to help with expenses for household bills, gas, heat, etc.
Our loved ones’ names will be printed on all our hearts forever. And our dollars do pay tribute to them, but only when they’re received by groups fighting to make a difference.
Thank you
Jane Cameron
Old Forge
