| As breast cancer pins celebrate almost 20 years in | | | | awareness, education and research efforts. |
| finding a cure for this cancer, these pink ribbon pins | | | | The latest triumphs, in the fight against breast cancer |
| continue to inspire progress. From Susan Komen, the | | | | show that the U.S. House of Representatives passed |
| Avon Foundation to the American Cancer Society's | | | | a bill to increase budget allocations for cancer |
| "Making Strides" program, these pink ribbon pins | | | | research and its prevention. Aside from the |
| generally have always been a catalyst for fundraising, | | | | government's pledge to fund research over the next |
| spreading awareness and researching a cure for this | | | | eight-years to decrease the mortality rate and |
| disease. A preview of the last two decades depicts | | | | suffering, scientific advancements suggest that |
| that millions of dollars have impelled the | | | | specific lifestyle habits are integral to reducing the |
| aforementioned advancements. | | | | chances of acquiring the disease. |
| It was the Susan G. Komen "Race" for the Cure® | | | | Unlike breast cancer pins initial debut, when events |
| in New York of October 13, 1991, the world had its | | | | were focused on "walkathons" and charity dinner |
| first introduction of pink ribbon pins. The success of | | | | benefits, fundraising has become quite innovative. For |
| the event and its trademark pink ribbon sparked an | | | | instance, "Walk the Walk" in the UK supplies |
| eruption of awareness across the nation. | | | | advocates with a Web site to post notices and |
| In subsequent years, behemoth corporations and | | | | obtain donations. The site publishes fundraising ideas. |
| non-profit foundations jumped on the breast cancer | | | | Thanks to social media, networking sites, such as |
| awareness bandwagon, designating celebrity | | | | Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, breast cancer |
| personalities as ambassadors. Elizabeth Hurley is the | | | | awareness advocates can host online events (games, |
| spokesperson for the cosmetic line, Estee Lauder. | | | | quizzes, webcasts), whereby the participants receive |
| Reese Witherspoon and Cynthia Nixon represent the | | | | pink ribbon or cancer pins, recognizing the |
| Avon Foundation and the Susan Komen Foundation, | | | | contribution. Attorneys recommend that entities, |
| respectively. Despite the icons, representing these | | | | small and large, avoid copyright infringements by |
| various awareness programs, a wave of cancer | | | | brainstorming their own breast cancer pins' design and |
| awareness pins also branded each foundations | | | | tagline. |
| efforts to generate donations. | | | | As discovering a cure is the ultimate objective for |
| Anyone, who is affected by any form of cancer, | | | | fundraising, volunteers or those, who want to |
| comprehends the importance of raising funds to find | | | | contribute to the cause, can form their own |
| a cure. Fundraising is comprised of a variation of | | | | organizations, integrating social media networking, |
| components, such as an event, breast cancer pins | | | | events and breast cancer pins to drive donations. In |
| add an infectious viral marketing campaign. Six million | | | | the end, pink ribbon pins are keepsakes, emblemizing |
| walkers across America have raised more than $400 | | | | each donor's contribution to the critical cause: a |
| million since 1993 via the "Making Strides" program. | | | | breast cancer cure. |
| The proceeds support the American Cancer Society's | | | | |