October is widely known to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is an annual campaign that raises awareness about the impact of breast cancer, and aims to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation is a great asset of information to help you educate yourselves and others on the importance of annual screenings. They have released a calendar of ways to support this initiative daily.
According to the NBCF, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It is estimated that in 2022, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer. On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.
What can you do to get involved in awareness and support?
- Make a donation to the NBCF, or other organizations that support the education and treatment of breast cancer.
- Join the local Making Strides event. This is a fundraising event that involves a 5k walk/run. You can walk alone, or with a team, or you can simply donate. It is October 19th at Walk of Fame park here in Nashville this year.
- Wear Pink! The pink ribbon represents the courage to fight breast cancer, hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses who publicly support the breast cancer movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer.
- Get your annual mammogram (if you are eligible) and post on social media to encourage and remind others to make their appointment!
- 12th Annual Wine Around the Square–
October 26, 6-9P, Murfreesboro
Wine Around the Square benefits the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation’s Power of Pink, Rutherford County’s premier program in the fight against breast cancer. On October 26th join us for a progressive wine and spirits tasting event set around the historic Downtown Square in Murfreesboro, TN. The event kicks off with a VIP party at 4:30 PM with the main event starting at 6 PM. Stones River Total Beverages, provides a wide variety of wines and spirits for sampling throughout the evening. Included in the main event ticket, guests will receive dinner provided by The Alley On Main and Clay Pit. Proceeds of the event go to support the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation’s Power of Pink Fund. The Power of Pink Fund is Rutherford County’s premier fight against breast cancer. The Power of Pink Fund provides mammography for underinsured and uninsured women in Rutherford County, including screenings, diagnostics, ultrasounds and MRIs. The Power of Pink Fund also supports two Mobile Mammography Coaches that serve 26 counties in Middle Tennessee as well as the Cancer Wellness Program at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. - Give a Hope Kit to a cancer patient- HOPE Kits are filled with thoughtful items that patients have told us are comforting and encouraging while undergoing breast cancer treatment
There are programs in Tennessee to help those who are uninsured, or facing financial difficulties. Please share this with any women in your life. Lack of insurance or funding should never be a reason why women cannot get the screenings and healthcare treatment they need. Visit here for more information.
Local organizations you can get involved with:
