Everyone Should be Aware
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and American football players in the NFL have begun donning pink gloves and socks in honor of the cause. While efforts such as those from sports teams likely send the message of breast cancer awareness to a younger audience, there are few organizations aimed specifically at helping young breast cancer patients or supporters. The disease is often regarded as an “old person’s disease,” a statement which is simply not true. An organization based in Canada is looking to change the way young people think about breast cancer. The organization, called Rethink, was founded in 2001 in an effort to bring breast cancer awareness to the “under-40 crowd.”
Rethinking Awareness.
Rethink’s main mission is to change the way information about breast cancer is spread. Rather than “golf tournaments and gala dinner fundraisers,” they have “hot-ticket romps across Canada, attracting hordes of young influencers and media attention.” The organization knows that it’s never too early to be aware, but in order to reach a younger audience, they have to speak a younger language. There are a wide variety of ways to get involved with the cause via Rethink’s site. Next year the organization is hosting a hike to Machu Picchu, for instance. Or, if you’re not up for the travel, you can donate money and receive a hot pink purse in return. There’s also an app where “hot guys remind you to check your breasts.” In addition to the site’s innovative events and fundraising tools, there’s also a lot of resources for information about the disease, such as articles about cancer-fighting foods and the importance of exercise, such as yoga. So check this site out, learn something important, and Rethink Breast Cancer.