This month, we’re honoured to highlight a very important cause: October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when people around the world come together to show their support for everyone affected by the disease. On average, every year in the UK we see 55,920 new cases of breast cancer; one in seven females will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime.
But together, we can do something about it. In this post, we highlight five creative ways you can show your support this October (and all year long) to fund live-saving research and provide support to people and their families.
Wear it Pink!
While the entire month of October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness, Breast Cancer Now also drills down on one day—21 October or Wear it Pink Day—to maximise participation. Wear it Pink is one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK, in which people wear pink throughout their communities, workplaces, and schools.
Many of us continue to feel the impacts of the global pandemic in our personal and professional lives. What you may not realise is that during the lockdown, researchers lost precious hours in their labs; suddenly, they couldn’t continue to study and make breakthroughs at the same pace. Wear it Pink is one way you can help replete critical funds and contribute to future progress to beat breast cancer.
It’s easy to get involved with Wear it Pink. Simply sign up to collect funds and break out the pink clothing and accessories! Once you register, you’ll get a helpful fundraising pack in the post. Breast Cancer Now also shares an inspiring list of fundraising ideas. For example, at your workplace, you could host a bake sale, outfit competition, or bingo game. Short on pink clothes? Check out the many options from Prevent Breast Cancer, from t-shirts to snoods to cycling jerseys.
Shop to Support
If pink’s not really your colour, there are other limited-edition charitable products to consider during Breast Cancer Awareness month, all of which support important research and advocacy efforts. This month, retailers band together to support Breast Cancer Now, including Asda; the long-running and award-winning partnership has raised £77 million through their Tickled Pink campaign!
With Tickled Pink, you can purchase everyday products that you already need, and feel good knowing that proceeds will go to an important cause. It’s now a little more rewarding to shop for things like Pantene Hair Biology shampoo, an Oral B toothbrush, Rimmel nail polish, shoes, hair care tools, cosy socks, and candles. You can even get a limited edition Tickled Pink vacuum
Step Out and Move
Shopping not your thing? Breast Cancer UK has you covered with its Step Out Challenge, which challenges participants to walk 300,000 steps over 30 days. Once you sign up, you’ll receive a handy tracker and sponsorship form to encourage your friends and family to donate to your challenge. The charity has other ways to get involved—check out the Daily Pilates Movement Challenge, various runs, and even a Putt for Prevention challenge for the golfers out there!
October is a great time to get outside. Before we know it, cooler nights and shorter days will be upon us. Take advantage of the fall weather to get out and get moving for an important cause. Physical activity has also been proven to further reduce the risk of breast cancer and other diseases. Walk for a cause and your own health and well-being!
Pledge with your Pet
Calling all animal lovers! Another way to show your support this month is to get your pet involved. Prevent Breast Cancer hosts a Pets That Prevent challenge; participants pledge £30 to walk 30 miles in 30 days, with their pet! If your pet is amenable, you can even go the extra mile and dress your pet in pink during your walks. Be sure to share your adorable pink pet photos on social media with the hashtag #PetsThatPrevent.
#StandStrong With Cancer Survivors
One of the most meaningful and rewarding ways to support breast cancer awareness is to connect with people who have been diagnosed with the disease. Look Good Feel Better offers complimentary group and virtual sessions to teach special beauty techniques to people diagnosed with breast cancer. The goal of #STANDSTRONG is to support people who may feel more isolated, anxious, and vulnerable than ever before, and to provide kindness, support, and confidence through human connection. You can read some of the powerful stories and donate to support the Look Good Feel Better campaign.
This October, how will you show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Whether you wear it pink, opt for limited edition products, step out for a challenge (with or without your pet), or donate to causes that directly help cancer survivors, we hope to see you out and about or online this month, and all year long. We’d love to hear what other ways you and your charity are coming together to beat cancer. Please get in touch with us anytime!