HEALTH + WELLNESS
‘ WEAR IT PINK ’ for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
EVERY YEAR , MORE THAN 60,000 PEOPLE ARE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN THE UK . SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN OCTOBER 1993 , EVERY OCTOBER SINCE HAS BEEN AWASH WITH PINK RIBBONS , WHICH ARE NOW A GLOBAL SYMBOL FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS . THIS MONTH , BREAST CANCER NOW – THE UK ’ S LARGEST BREAST CANCER CHARITY – IS ENCOURAGING US TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND DIG OUT OUR PINK GLAD RAGS FOR THEIR FLAGSHIP FUNDRAISER , ‘ WEAR IT PINK ’, ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 20TH .
Wear it pink calls on supporters to ditch their everyday colours and pull on some pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now ’ s lifesaving research and to help the charity achieve its aim that by 2050 nobody will die from breast cancer . The charity ’ s flagship fundraising day started in 2002 and has so far raised over £ 30 million for vital breast cancer research .
“ Wear it pink is a brilliant opportunity for individuals , groups , coworkers and families across the UK to fundraise together ,” says Lottie Barnden , senior fundraising products manager at Breast Cancer Now . “ There are so many ways to get involved , from holding a pink cake sale or sports day in the office or at school , to having a pink party at home with your friends . Whatever you do , you ’ ll be raising money for Breast Cancer Now ’ s lifesaving research .”
To take part in wear it pink this October , please visit wearitpink . org for further details , fundraising ideas and how to register for your free fundraising pack .
HOW TO CHECK YOUR BREASTS
There ’ s no right or wrong way to check your breasts , but do try to get used to looking at and feeling your breasts regularly as part of your usual body care routine . This could be while you ’ re in the bath or shower , when you ’ re putting on body lotion , or when you ’ re getting dressed - do what ’ s comfortable for you . You should check all parts of both breasts , your armpits , and all the way up to your collarbone for any unusual changes .
It ’ s important to look out for lumps , but there are many other symptoms to be aware of too . This handy infographic from fellow breast cancer charity , Breast Cancer Care , shows you exactly what to look for and where ( www . breastcancercare . org . uk ).
Breast Cancer Now was created by the merger of leading research charities Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer . The charity ’ s overall ambition is that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live – they are determined to stop women dying from the disease , working in a new , collaborative way and bringing together all those affected by breast cancer to fund research , share knowledge and find answers .
For more information on Breast Cancer Now ’ s work , visit www . breastcancernow . org , find them on Facebook at / breastcancernow , and follow them on Twitter @ breastcancernow .
125