Take a look around you this month – farmers across the country are growing pink pumpkins, NFL players are wearing pink cleats, runners and walkers donning pink ribbons are probably zipping through your community right now. But why? It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Macmillan Cancer Support have made it their mission to support people whose lives have been impacted by cancer. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’d like to recognize the work and the support that they provide year-round and suggest some ways that you can get involved this month.
Susan G. Komen’s Story
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer – and as a result, in 1982, that promise became the start of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Today, thanks in part to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, the nonprofit has invested almost $2 billion to fulfill its promise, working to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 50 countries.
Last month we had the privilege of having Laurel Pointer from Susan G. Komen speak about the organization’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. And as a way to deliver on that promise, Laurel focused on how Susan G. Komen’s online community, MyKomen, is helping to empower affiliates to impact their community.
How You Can Get Involved This Month
Macmillan’s Story
Macmillan is a charity dedicated to providing specialist healthcare, information and financial support to people impacted by cancer. With a reach extending to more than 4.9 million people, Macmillan delivers practical, medical, emotional and financial support in its mission to reach and improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer.
Macmillan noticed that many individuals affected by cancer describe their experience as a journey. So Macmillan wanted to give individuals a way to describe each step of the journey, communicate with peers for support and get more information on medical and services that Macmillan offers. As a solution, Macmillan created an online channel for people affected by cancer to connect with one another 24/7 – essentially it helps people affected by cancer meet, engage in discussions, let out frustrations, and most importantly, find both encouragement and support.
[Breast cancer image source:] Big Stock Photo