October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it is estimated that 231,000 men and women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the end of the year. So how can you help?
If you visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation website, you can find many ways to get involved with breast cancer awareness. You can donate, join a fundraiser, host a fundraiser, create an early detection plan, or even just share Beyond the Shock, a breast cancer educational resource. You can also visit BreastCancer.org to find all the information you could ever want to know about breast cancer, and also learn how you can help out in your community. This is also a great resource if you are currently fighting breast cancer and want to find support groups in your area.
The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation (VBCF) was founded in 1991 and has its headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. If you live in Virginia and are interested in helping with breast cancer awareness and eradication all year long, this is a great place to start. You can join a chapter, form a chapter, or even just host a fundraiser. VBCF has helped to increase federal funding for breast cancer research and created a trust fund that helps pay for treatment for women who do not have health insurance.
If you’re interested in helping out beyond October, Relay for Life is one of the best ways to get involved with raising money to support cancer research and help those who are currently fighting cancer of all types. Relay for Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk (don’t worry, even though it’s a relay, there is no running involved!) There are food, games and entertainment, and it is a great way to remember those who have lost the fight to cancer and to honor those who are currently fighting. Every cent that is raised through Relay for Life goes directly to the American Cancer Society and is used to continue cancer research, prevention, early detection programs, and patient services.
There is probably a Relay for Life event near you! Go to their website to find yours. Over 6,000 Relay for Life events are held each year, so I’m sure you can find one near you! But what if for some reason you can’t make it to the event, but you still want to help out? It takes a lot of time and planning to make a Relay event happen, so if you’re really interested, you can join the committee to help plan your Relay. If you’re looking for less of a time commitment, you can just sign up to make a team (it’s okay, that doesn’t mean you need to go to the event) and you can get your family, friends and coworkers to donate and raise as much money as possible!
The University of Richmond will be hosting their Relay for Life event on April 8, 2016. You can sign up to join our event here, or you can find one that is closer to you. Cancer affects us all, and every bit of time spent fighting gets us one step closer to knowing that no one else will ever have to hear the words, “You have cancer.”
