Every October, amidst the falling leaves, costumes and sweaters, you might see a flash of pink. As October rolls around, sports teams get out their pink cleats, gloves and stickers, Facebook profile pictures might change to show a ribbon, and most clothing stores release new lines of pink-inspired gear. Why? Breast Cancer Awareness Month. An entire month dedicated to celebrating the survivors, remembering those we've lost, and educating our loved ones.
The pink means different things to different people. Some might wear it as a sign of support and solidarity, to remember a loved one, or simply because they love the color. For me, I wear it to celebrate the survivors in my life and to remember a teacher who I loved dearly that was taken far too soon.
I think the pink ribbons represent more than a cause. Wearing those pink ribbons show that you are part of something so much bigger than yourself. Cancer is physical. It is harmful and life-threatening, but it is only physical; it can be conquered. When you put that ribbon on or sport an extra hint of pink, you are a part of something that is not purely physical, something that cannot be suppressed.
Our fight against cancer is like any battle, we lose many along the way, but the legacy they have left behind fuels the drive of those who remember them and they are never forgotten. There are those who stay strong in the fight or even beat it, but who continue to support those still fighting. However, unlike regular battles, this is one that we are guaranteed to win. Sure, right now we're in the thick of the fight and we've lost many soldiers, but rather than struggling to continue, we get stronger every day.
With that in mind, I ask you, the next time you rock your pink, recognize that wearing that beautiful color is a privilege because it unifies you with the greatest group of warriors. That pink ribbon is a sign of your own personal warrior inside you, and I ask you to fight with all of your might. Alone, we might falter, but together we create an impenetrable force that not even cancer could take away.
One more thing - this fight is not just for October, but for every day to come. Even if cancer statistics drop to one in a million, that one is one of us, and that is one too many.
