Promotional products are distributed to promote awareness of a company, but in the month of October, promotional products can be used to promote awareness and contribute to fundraising efforts for breast cancer research.
With statistics that continue to grow, the effects of breast cancer are felt by most. Since its introduction in 1991, the pink ribbon is an easily recognizable symbol of support for those battling breast cancer and Susan G Komen’s search for a cure.
So, how can promotional products contribute to the fight against breast cancer?
1. PROVIDE SUPPORT
Providing employees and clients with breast cancer-inspired gifts can show empathy for those that are currently fighting, those that have survived, or those that have a loved one with breast cancer. Companies can also give support by providing information on early detection using items such as magnets, fully customized pamphlets, etc., to encourage employees to talk about their experiences with breast cancer and their routine medical exams.
Since 1990, breast cancer deaths have declined due to early detection, better screening, and new treatment options.
2. RAISE AWARENESS
Creating awareness of the risks and early warning signs of breast cancer can help lead to early detection and will increase the chance of survival. While October has been deemed breast cancer awareness month, every 2 minutes a woman in the US is diagnosed with breast cancer, and yearly over 2,700 men are diagnosed, as well. Providing items such as tote bags, notebooks, and drinkware will make awareness last throughout the year.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer
3. FUNDRAISE
While offering pink or pink ribbon items, shows support and creates awareness, these items do not directly benefit breast cancer research. However, companies can provide fun ways to promote fundraising activities to donate towards finding a cure. Ideas include: selling breast cancer T-shirts or sweatshirts and allowing employees to purchase and wear them on dress-down days, joining or organizing a fundraising walk, scheduling a virtual happy hour or providing themed promotional products for sale, and donating all proceeds to a reputable breast cancer research foundation, such as the Susan G Komen fund.
There are more than 3.1 million survivors living in the US
This blog was written by Jamie Rossiter, an employee at Promotional Images Inc., who had a loved one diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. See her story and share your own below.
"In January 2022, I received a phone call from my best friend that she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I have known Jessica since we were 9 years old and we were only 36. The news seemed surreal as she talked about finding a lump during a routine breast exam and calling her doctor immediately. After rounds of testing, the lump was deemed cancerous and a treatment plan was beginning to form with a series of visits to Roswell Cancer Institute. Not only was Jessica facing the unknown for herself, but she is also a mom to 5 boys, 16 to 6 years old. She needed to fight this aggressively to make sure she would be there for them. Throughout this past year, Jessica has undergone chemotherapy and decided to undergo a full mastectomy based on her likelihood of developing breast cancer again in the future. She has always been the toughest person I know, but her strength in overcoming this devastating disease is beyond what I could have ever imagined. Today, Jessica has been deemed cancer free but is still recovering from her surgeries.
You always think “this won’t happen to me or those that I love”, but with the staggering fact, that 1 in 8 will have breast cancer in their lives, inevitably, this will eventually reach you or your loved ones. I am grateful that Jessica has always had a proactive stance on her health and that through years of fundraising and research, the survival rate is much better. This experience taught me that we need to continue to teach about early detection and continue to research so that we can increase the survival rate to 100%!"
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