It’s October, and that means pumpkins (and pumpkin flavored everything), hay rides, apple picking, and getting to watch the leaves change color. But October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and helping out is easier than you might think! Here are some simple ways to get involved and raise awareness around Chicago!
1. Go see the giant bra at Union Station
To raise awareness for early detection of breast cancer, this year Advocate Health Care decided to be pretty obvious and hang a 16-foot tall, 1,500 pound bra in Pioneer Square. Early detection can save lives, so get tested or encourage your friends and family members to do the same! The bra is now residing at Union Station and will be moving throughout the city all month.
2. Wear pink
Tons of your favorite brands like Clinique, Aerie, Paul Mitchell, Philosophy, and many others have specific products and campaigns just for breast cancer awareness! A portion of the profits for these products is donated to breast cancer research. And who doesn’t love to wear pink? Now you can rock your favorite color and donate to a good cause.
3. Volunteer
One of Chicago’s biggest breast cancer awareness organizations is Bright Pink, a nonprofit that educates, raises awareness, and provides support for women with breast cancer and their loved ones. You can volunteer to help them with events and advocacy on their website, which you can find right here!
4. Walk
Every year the American Cancer Society hosts an event called Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. You can volunteer to help out at theevent or join in yourself! Chicago’s event is October 25th at Soldier Field, and it only costs $25 to register beforehand, so grab some girlfriends, deck yourselves out in pink, and go support the cause!
5. Get educated
According to breastcancer.org, about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Stay healthy and low-risk by educating yourself on risk factors, preventative measures, and knowing when to get checked out. You can quickly and easily give yourself a monthly breast exam in a few easy steps. Stay healthy, and encourage your friends and family to do the same, not just this month but all year round!