Pink October

It is October 1 today. In many countries, October is observed as the Month of Breast Cancer Awareness. Many events are held this month, to make people aware of the disease.

Some organizations hold events like pink ribbon breakfasts or dinners to raise money for research. Many monuments and buildings are light up in pink lights, after a campaign started by Estee Lauder. These include the Eiffel Tower, the White House, the Sydney Opera House and even the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers hotel in India. The pink ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for breast cancer. It is also worn in memory of those who lost their lives due to complications from this disease.

Some years ago, the company that does Post-its, created pink ones for the cause. The money from the sale of those post-its went to research.

Some well known companies like Avon and Reebok hold special sales and races to raise money for research.

This year too, many events are being held across the world. But perhaps being in the newspaper business, what I think is most significant is what The Herald News is doing. The Herald News has been printed on pink newsprint on October 1. The newspaper and its owners GateHouse Media New England, together with the American Cancer Society and We Got Soccer, will “paint the town pink,” to help raise awareness for breast cancer. It will also focus on locals affected by the disease and feature new developments in research. They will donate 10 cents from each pink newspaper sold, to the American Cancer Society.

In India too, a few organizations hold events to create awareness about this disease. The incidence of breast cancer in India is expected to increase by over 200 % by the year 2020. On October 2, over 75 women are getting behind the wheel at the Women’s Car Rally 2009, in support of The Forum for Breast Cancer Protection, and NGO. Fleximoms is supporting the event. The rally will be from Delhi to Agra.

On October 4, there is a walk in Chennai, ‘One Walk One Hope,’ to express solidarity with patients but also to raise awareness.

Everything to make women aware and go for that mammogram and physical examination.

Statistics: epassages.org