Why is October the Pink Month?

October is here and we think you are all aware that October is seen as the pink month - Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is an annual campaign that is truly important and helps increase awareness of breast cancer. So let us get more educated on the topic and understand the history and importance of this month. 

Why is October Pink Month?

October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international campaign that is created by breast cancer charities. The purpose of the campaign is to increase awareness about breast cancer and raise the funds to research the causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the cure for breast cancer. The pink month was created back in 1985 as a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries, back then the campaign aimed to promote mammography to detect and prevent breast cancer. 

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women both in the "developed" and "less developed world". In 2011 over 508 000 women died of breast cancer worldwide. 

Why is it Symbolised with the Pink Ribbon?

Today, when we think about the pink month and the breast cancer awareness we often associate it with the pink ribbon. It started in 1991 woman named Charlotte Haley whose close loved one were survivors started to send out peach ribbons to increase the awareness of breast cancer. Later that same year Susan G. Komen Foundation started giving out pink ribbons to the participant in its New York City race. But it was not until 1993 that Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and made the pink ribbon its symbol that we now till this day associate breast cancer awareness with. The Pink Ribbon expresses support and solidarity with women with breast cancer. And the color pink was chosen because of its feminine associations. 

How You Can Help this Month 

There are many ways we take a stand this month and help support women around the world with breast cancer and increase awareness. We can see different pink month campaigns everywhere we so this month - so really take a stand and do what you can this month. Here are some ways you can help this month: 

• Educate yourself - The first thing you can do is to educate yourself on the topic. Read more on the topic and get a deeper understanding of why it is such an important month on the topic. When we educate ourselves it will also be easier for us to have understanding and compassion. Make sure to read other people's stories of what it has been like for them or share your own story to educate other people! 
• Support - There are so many ways that you can give support this month - for example, donate to one of the charities and foundations for further research on breast cancer, but also by spreading the word about Breast Cancer Awareness Month on your different social media. Because that is really what we are trying to do this month - to increase awareness. Wear the pink ribbon this month! 

So let us take this month to keep spreading the awareness of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, do what you can, and keep educating yourself on the topic. 

much love, 

Team Moonchild