October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Breast Cancer Awareness month is an annual campaign to raise awareness of the disease.

NBCAM began in 1985 due to a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries, which makes anti-breast cancer drugs. The original goal was to promote mammography as a weapon against breast cancer.

The pink ribbon, the unmistakable symbol for breast cancer, originated at the Susan J. Komen Foundation’s Walk to End Breast Cancer. Participants received pink ribbons to wear in memory of those who lost their lives to breast cancer.

In 1993, Alexandra Penney, editor-in-chief of the women’s health magazine Self, and Evelyn Lauder, breast cancer survivor and Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, took the idea of the pink ribbon a step further. After founding the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Penney and Lauder established the pink ribbon as its symbol. Through the strength of the Estée Lauder brand and marketing in NYC, the pink ribbon became the international symbol for breast cancer awareness.

A major proponent for NBCAM is The National Breast Cancer Foundation. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, started in 1991 by breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, aims to increase worldwide education about breast cancer and how to recognize signs of the disease through early detection. The NBCF offers three apps, “beyond the shock,” an educational resource, “My NBCF”, which shares the stories of various breast cancer survivors and offers support to patients, and “Early Detection Plan,” to keep women on alert to recognize sings of the disease.

The NFL, in partnership with the American Cancer Society, has launched “The Crucial Catch,” a campaign dedicated to preventing and curing breast cancer. Throughout October, NFL players, coaches, and referees will be wearing pink apparel to show their support, and the apparel will be auctioned off at the end of the month, with all proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society’s Health Advocates program. Additionally, this year all NFL markets will be supported with American Cancer Society grants funded by A Crucial Catch. Over the past three years, American Cancer Society CHANGE Grants, have educated 72,000 women on the benefits and importance of breast cancer screening with more than 10,000 free or low-cost screenings performed (nfl.com/pink).

Breast Cancer Awareness month spreads support and respect for victims of Breast Cancer, increases awareness for the importance of early detection, and raises money to bring researchers closer to the cure. To show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Hingham High School, please wear pink on Friday, October 25.
For additional ways to join the fight against breast cancer, participate in a fundraising event or host your own, donate, or demonstrate support through the pink ribbon.

Additional information on The Crucial Catch and various foundations that support Breast Cancer:
http://www.nfl.com/pink
http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FactsandStatistics.html
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-fundraising
http://www.pinkribbon.com/