October 2007 is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 2007 is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the official charity Breast Cancer Care has arranged a series of events and promotions to highlight the cause.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was introduced as a worldwide campaign in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder to increase awareness of breast cancer, raise funds for research into the disease and support people affected by the disease. Today, the major breast cancer and cancer charities all over the UK continue to champion the cause every October, employing the pink ribbon – now a global symbol of breast cancer awareness.
Breast
Cancer Care has been supporting people living
with breast cancer in the UK for over 30 years. Each
year around 44,000 people are diagnosed with breast
cancer in the UK – it’s the most common form of
cancer in this country.
Over 12,500 people die each year from breast cancer.
The incidence of breast cancer is on the increase although survival rates are steadily improving. Breast cancer care say this is probably due to improved treatment and early detection resulting from increased awareness as well as the NHS Screening Service.
Some of the events and promotions planned for this month’s campaign include:
In The Pink - throughout the month of October – Official Pink Day is Friday 19 October
Breast Cancer Care is asking everyone across the UK to get In the Pink and raise money for people affected by breast cancer. www.breastcancercare.org.uk/inthepink
Breast Cancer Fashion Shows
The Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show will be making its eleventh outing on 3 October this year, marking the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. www.breastcancercare.org.uk/theshow
There will be various events and activities held throughout October - To see more information, or to get involved, go to Breast Cancer Care - Events
You can also support the charity's work by shopping online at Breast Cancer Care Shop - Do your Christmas shopping online and raise money for breast cancer care. Choose from
- Beauty accessories
- Christmas gifts, decorations and cards
- Fashion and sportswear, and much more...
Lingerie retailer figleaves.com are supporting the campaign by donating a percentage of all sales to both Breast Cancer Care and The Prostate Cancer Charity.
“As
a retailer selling undergarments to both women
and men we feel we have a responsibility to help
in the battles against breast and prostate
cancers,” comments Clare Kearney,
head of buying. “We are also keen to help
year round as well as in the special designated
campaign months. By committing to a percentage
donation on all sales we are ensuring that as we
grow, our contribution will too.”
In addition to this ongoing commitment, during October, figleaves will team up with five leading brands to donate a further 10 per cent of net sales on five products. The donation will go to Breast Cancer Care:
For further information on breast cancer and Breast Cancer Care go to www.breastcancercare.org.uk Anyone with breast cancer or breast health concerns can call the Breast Cancer Care helpline free 0808 800 6000
For further information on prostate cancer go to www.prostate-cancer.org.uk Alternatively, if you have prostate cancer concerns you can call The Prostate Cancer Charity’s confidential helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses.
M&S have produced a range of pink themed
products in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer,
with 10% from the sale of these, plus many other
products in stores and on-line, going directly to
the charity.
Having raised over £1.5million last year, M&S is now
in its sixth successive year of working with
Breakthrough - the UK’s leading charity
committed to fighting breast cancer through
research, campaigning and education.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month at M&S
Breakthrough
The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade started in the UK in 1992 with the sole aim of making a difference to women’s lives everywhere. By the end of 2006 an amazing £13 million had been raised for breast cancer charities.
In the UK, Avon have also been involved in several major campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of being breast aware while raising money at the same time. These include Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Awards.