| No matter who you are, what you do, or where | | | | education, screening, treatment, and research. |
| you live, chances are you have been personally | | | | Participants of the race who were cancer |
| affected by breast cancer. The statistics are clear | | | | survivors were initially given pink visors to |
| and overwhelming; but statistics mean little when | | | | commemorate their fight; but all participants |
| faced with the diagnosis of yourself or a loved | | | | began receiving pink ribbons in 1991. |
| one. | | | | However, the ribbon really stepped into the |
| For those who fight the battle against this cancer | | | | limelight in 1992 when Self magazine featured it in |
| on a daily basis, the support of family and friends | | | | its second annual Breast Cancer Awareness |
| is just as important as the treatment received - | | | | Month issue. The magazine partnered with Estee |
| necessary support that widens still the circle of | | | | Lauder who handed out over a million pink ribbons |
| people affected by this disease. This family of | | | | at its makeup counters across the country. |
| patients and supporters | | | | Attached to each were instructions on proper |
| "strong in numbers" often find the wearing of a | | | | breast self-examination and information on how to |
| breast cancer ribbon to be a sign of their | | | | petition the White House for increased funding for |
| connectivity and a larger call for awareness and | | | | better research. |
| aggressive strides in research. | | | | Legend tells us that the pink ribbon was chosen |
| We've all seen them - the pink breast cancer | | | | because of its close association with femininity. |
| ribbon that adorns any manner of clothing and is | | | | Meant to empower and inspire women to enact |
| meant to draw attention to the staggering | | | | change in their own medical care, the pink ribbon |
| statistics - affecting one in eight women during | | | | began as a wake-up call for all women; without |
| their lifetime; over a million people throughout the | | | | fully engaging in the network of healthcare, |
| world this year alone; and claiming the lives of | | | | researchers, and government that wield influence |
| 43,000 people a year in the United States. | | | | in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, |
| The wearing or displaying of a ribbon has long | | | | women were at the mercy of those in power. It |
| been identified with the plight of charitable causes; | | | | was time to take an active role and affect |
| from the yellow ribbons tied around trees in honor | | | | change at the highest level. |
| of soldiers far from home, to the looped red | | | | Today, the power of the ribbon holds fast to its |
| ribbon worn in symbol of AIDS activism. The pink | | | | fundamental values with which it was originally |
| ribbon, that is now so inseparable from its cause, | | | | introduced. And it continues its work of uniting |
| had its origins with the Susan G. Komen Breast | | | | generations of women and families in the fight |
| Cancer Foundation. | | | | against cancer. As research continues and new |
| The foundation, which began in 1982 as a way to | | | | medical and technological advancements are |
| unite women who were suffering with breast | | | | brought to the table, the ribbon will surely continue |
| cancer in a unified call for better funded research, | | | | in its role as a sign of awareness and an infinite |
| began holding Race for the Cure in 1990, an | | | | commitment by its wearers. |
| annual walk/run event to help raise funds for | | | | |