Celebrating 25years OF THE
PINK RIBBON
IN BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WE LOOK AT WHAT THIS POWERFUL SYMBOL OF SUPPORT MEANS FOR ALL AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER… TO MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PINK RIBBON, WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE AFFECTED TO SHARE THEIR #PINKRIBBON25 STORY OF STRENGTH AND INSPIRATION THROUGH BREAST CANCER CARE’S FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGE.
SAMIA AL QADHI IS CEO OF THE CHARITY BREAST CANCER CARE, WHICH WAS THE FIRST CHARITY TO ADOPT
THE PINK RIBBON
IN ITS CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH BEGAN IN THE EARLY 90S IN THE USA, WHEN EVELYN LAUDER INTRODUCED THE IDEA. THE BUSINESSWOMAN, SOCIALITE AND PHILANTHROPIST WAS A TRUE INSPIRATION; SHE ALSO HAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BREAST CANCER AND WAS DETERMINED TO ADDRESS A LACK OF FUNDING IN BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AT THE TIME. EVELYN WORKED WITH ALEXANDRA PENNEY, THE FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF Self MAGAZINE, AND TOGETHER THEY LAUNCHED A SPECIAL ISSUE TO HIGHLIGHT BREAST AWARENESS, AND DEVISED THE CONCEPT OF THE PINK RIBBON.
THE CAMPAIGN STARTED SMALL, WITH EVELYN LARGELY FINANCING THE LITTLE PINK BOWS GIVEN TO WOMEN AT DEPARTMENT STORE MAKE-UP COUNTERS TO REMIND THEM ABOUT BREAST EXAMINATIONS. THEY PROVED POPULAR AND THE CAMPAIGN GATHERED MOMENTUM.
AFTER I MET WITH EVELYN IN 1994, BREAST CANCER CARE WAS THE FIRST BREAST CANCER CHARITY IN THE UK TO GET INVOLVED IN BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. OUR PINK RIBBON PIN BADGES BECAME CENTRAL TO THE FIRST UK BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR VITAL SUPPORT SERVICES, LIKE OUR FREE TELEPHONE HELPLINE.
SINCE THEN, THE PINK RIBBON AND THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN EVERY OCTOBER HAS HELPED BRING BREAST CANCER TO THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE’S MINDS AND TO THE TOP OF THE HEALTH AGENDA IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE CELEBRATE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH PINK EVENTS LIKE THE BIG PINK AND GLAMOROUS FUNDRAISING EVENTS LIKE OUR FASHION SHOWS. BUT WITH 62,000 PEOPLE DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR, THERE ARE VERY SERIOUS MESSAGES BEHIND THE CAMPAIGN. VISIT BREASTCANCERCARE.ORG.UK