Aside from Halloween, one of the most noticeable October themes is breast cancer, which is fitting considering October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From the “I heart boobies” bracelets we saw in middle school to organizations like Relay for Life, bringing awareness to cancer, specifically breast cancer, is important and interspersed throughout society. However, there is still more to be done to help the fight against breast cancer. According to BreastCancer.Org, breast cancer death rates are higher for women in the U.S. than any other cancer, besides lung cancer. In addition, for women in the U.S., breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, besides skin cancer. Here at Cal Lutheran, one of the upcoming events we have in support of breast cancer research is the CLU Think Pink Men’s Fashion Show. Photo courtesy of the author
On Wednesday, October 25th in Ullman 100 at 8 pm, the Trinity Staff is hosting the CLU Think Pink Men’s Fashion Show! Tickets are $2 and all proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Organization. Students can buy tickets from any of the residence hall front desks.
The Susan G. Komen Organization started in 1982 from a promise between two sisters. Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, who passed away from breast cancer, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. Since the organization began, they have invested more than $2.9 billion in groundbreaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 60 countries. This organization is one of a kind as they address breast cancer on multiple fronts like research, community health, global outreach and public policy initiatives. The Susan G. Komen Organization funded more than $920 million in research and more than $2 billion in medical care, community and provider education and psychosocial support. In addition Komen focuses on supporting those with the fewest resources, the women and men who are uninsured, under-insured and low-income making them unable to access care. The combination of science, education and direct help to people facing breast cancer has led to a 38% decline in mortality from 1989 to 2014.2012%20Komen%20Austin%20Race%20for%20the%20Cure%20via%20
So why should you go to this event?
As college students, it feels difficult for us to donate because it’s essentially giving money away. Most of us have jobs and we work for our money. But this event only costs $2. The $2 that you give goes directly to the Susan G. Komen Organization. You’re helping all the women and men who are fighting against breast cancer. According to the U.S Breast Cancer Statistics, about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. By attending this event, you’re helping to support those 1 in 8 women. You’re supporting more than just the women and men who have breast cancer, you’re also supporting their families.
If helping a cause isn’t enough to convince you to go to the event, remember that this is a fashion show. The CLU men who have decided to be the models for the show will be wearing pink and denim, so if you want something to do for that Wednesday night, come watch these guys strut down a runway. This is a great event to go to with all your friends to have something fun to do in the middle of the week.
Most of us have recently had our midterms, so this fashion show would be great to de-stress and just have fun to lighten your mood for the rest of the week. In addition, if you have a friend who will be a model for the fashion show, you should come and support them as well!
Sometimes, we feel helpless when we’re just students, when we barely have enough money to support ourselves. We feel like our contributions to organizations won’t matter because the donation isn’t big enough. But that isn’t true at all. There’s thousands of people who will be affected by breast cancer and who do need those donations. According to the American Cancer Society in 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed and 63,410 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer in women in the U.S. There will be an estimated 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer in men in the U.S. in 2017.
If you’re busy on the day of the Think Pink Fashion Show, you can still donate to other organizations. For example, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is another non-profit organization that raises money to support research at medical institutions; the BCRF received an A+ on Charitywatch. In addition, Relay for Life is community based and is one of the most common organizations that raises money and awareness for not just breast cancer, but for all the types of cancers people face. Another organization that raises awareness and money for breast cancer research is Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, this foundation was rated 91.98 out of 100 on Charity Navigator.
Every single dollar counts for the 318,590 women and men and their families who will impacted by breast cancer in 2017. Those dollars helped me and my family when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. So, please go to the Think Pink CLU Men’s Fashion Show because you’re helping families like mine and people like my mother get through one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of the author.