October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As more kitschy holidays pop up every so often on the calendar, it can be easy to brush awareness months like this to the side. But it's something that people need to take seriously, no matter how many pink ribbon and "Save the Tata" items there are out there. Sadly, "1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime". And sometimes, because of the patriarchy, many of them are overlooked.
Good news: There are lots of ways to help beyond taking it seriously. Whether it's through donating to a reputable organization to help fund research and marketing, attending an event, or sharing facts and personal stories (and cool mastectomy tattoos) on social media, there are easy and affordable, ways to raise awareness and even save a life. And yes, reminding loved ones to get screened is on this list.
Post About Breast Cancer Awareness Month
One of the easiest and most effective ways to spread awareness about breast cancer is to post on social media. This can include changing your profile picture to have a filter with the pink ribbon, posting a status reminding friends about the month, or writing about your personal experience with the disease and how to detect it early on.
Donate to a Breast Cancer Organization
Donating to charity may not seem like a form of awareness, despite being super helpful, but it is. That's because while a lot of the money, depending on the organization, will go to funding research, it also may help with funding the workers and marketing materials created to get the word out about the cause through events or partnerships.
Send a Care Package to a Survivor
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Sending a care package to someone who needs a pick-me-up is always a good idea, no matter what they're going through, but sending a breast cancer awareness-related package is super special. If the person who receives the gift has social media, they can post there and bring awareness to the issue by sharing their gift.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to help raise awareness. Not just because you're helping out groups and people who put in a lot of time and money to put on awareness events or fundraisers, but because it does help a lot. Other people in your life may see your actions and be inspired to help, too, or take their screenings more seriously.
Do a Walk or Event
One of the most popular ways to give back or raise awareness for breast cancer is to attend one of the super publicized walks or attend a fundraising event. As long as you do research into the groups you participate with, doing events is a great way to get friends and family involved and informed about the cause in a fun way.
Wear a Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirt
An easy, and chic, way to get people to think about breast cancer and ways they can help or protect themselves is by wearing a cute T-shirt that is designed around breast cancer. This one in particular says "In October, we wear pink." We like the T-shirt idea because it gets people's attention and opens the door to conversation.
Have a Bake Sale Fundraiser With the Kids
Getting kids involved in philanthropy is so important. And it can be fun, especially when you hold a bake sale. Plan one with your kids and talk to them about breast cancer, and how donations from the bake sale can help fund research for the cause. It can also be an opportunity to get sweets buyers thinking about it.
Share Breast Cancer Facts
There are a lot of things happening in the world, many of them sad, making it easier for certain causes to fall on deaf ears. But that's why awareness is so important. Something as simple as being informed about the facts, talking to others about those facts, and encouraging them to take the disease seriously, can be just as effective as wearing pink.
Remind Yourself (& Friends) To Get Screened
The more you know, the more protected you can be. Checking for any signs of breast cancer often and early is key to having the best chance of beating breast cancer. Word of mouth is one of the best things that individuals can do to really make a positive impact and save lives. Set a reminder to do self-exams and get screened, and remind loved ones to do the same.
Buy From Brands That Donate to the Cause
Want to kill two birds with one stone? Donate to the cause through buying products from businesses that pledge a dollar amount of proceeds from each sale to reputable breast cancer awareness organizations and groups. There are so many products available, from bracelets to bears.
Make a Meal for Someone in Treatment
It's common for people to cook for those who are struggling, as cooking can be a difficult task to do when people are sick, grieving, or facing a mental health issue. So why not do it for someone going through treatment for breast cancer? It may not scream to the world in the same way that other things do, but it's a small way to make a difference.
Donate Company Profits to an Organization
Big businesses aren't the only ones that can help support causes. It's certainly easy for them, but if you have a small businesses that's able to spare some profits to give to a charity, breast cancer awareness should be on the list to choose from. It won't only help organizations financially, but a business committing to a cause gives it a lot of validity.
Support Tattoo Artists Who Work on Survivors
A few tattoo artists have been going viral here and there over the years for tattooing women who have had mastectomies. Supporting these artists means you support their craft and ability to keep providing this service. Plus, it helps get the word out that this service is available to those who want it.
Donate Instead of Giving Wedding Favors
Getting married next year? A lot of people are. Instead of making favors for each guest (that they'll probably throw out, to be honest), think about donating to a cause in their honor, and include this cute card to tell them what you did. This one says American Red Cross, but you could choose an organization that helps with breast cancer awareness.
Teach Men & Support Trans Friends
This may sound simple, but men (and trans men and women) can get breast cancer, too. Make sure their voices are heard and included in the conversation about awareness. Also, telling the cis men in your life can help make sure that they know they can help with the cause, too, and get them excited about taking it up.
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