Here it is again. October used to be full of hay rides, apple picking, Halloween costumes, and more outside fun things in the crisp cool days. But now it has been replaced by Pinktober where we will be flooded by all things pink. Here is a list of a few things I have already seen:
- A book display of a bunch of novels where all were issued with pink ribbons on the covers and and some unknown percent of their proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research.
- An (little bitty) ad for a dress at Macy's where they will donate 5% of the (undisclosed) sale price of the dress to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation - I don't know who this organization is. I looked it up and the dress retails for $99 so $4.99 will be donated for each dress sold.
- A local store is having a breast cancer sale on Sunday. An unspecified percentage of sales will be donated to breast cancer research.
- Eggland's best eggs are supporting breast cancer as well. They will have little pink ribbons stamped on each egg.
This is all I can remember but I am sure there is more and its 630 am on October 1. I can't wait to see what else I am exposed to during the month. I am sure I will see pink ribbons on EVERYTHING!
I think the point is good. Raise awareness of breast cancer, the most common cancer in the US for women. But it can be over done. Everything is pink. It gets a bit ridiculous.
The other issue is that all these things say they are raising funds for breast cancer research but you need to check the fine print. A list of questions and answers is found on the website www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org but I will summarize below:
1. How much money from your purchase actually goes toward breast cancer? Is the amount clearly stated on the package?
2. What is the maximum amount that will be donated?
3. How are the funds being raised?
4. To what breast cancer organization does the money go, and what types of programs does it support?
5. What is the company doing to assure that its products are not actually contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?
Check their site for more information but the real point is you might be better off just sending a check directly to a solid foundation instead. In the meantime, I'll just be braced against the wave of pink.
3 comments:
I am just so happy that it is October and another month is over. October is the month I will finish chemo, so I am excited to see it has arrived! Just read your first post from 2007 when you started blogging. I just recently started. I hope you can visit mine and comment. www.nancyspoint.com I'll be back to read more of yours when my mind clears.
Has K-mart been contacting you to link to them? Their breast cancer initiative is to pay $5 to a breast cancer charity for every prescription transferred. The person will receive a $20 gift card (max. up to $100 for 5 prescriptions). This smacks of exploitation to me.
Hi Caroline!
Good point! Yes, we get washed over with an urge to contribute to "pink awareness", and yet there's a question to what extent is "pink" being used. Thank you for posting! I work with Navigating Cancer, a free website supporting the cancer community.
www.navigatingcancer.com
I would love to include this topic for discussion. Can you contact me? I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Becky
becky@navigatingcancer.com
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