Photo by Temi Coker

One in eight women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed worldwide. Of the predicted 252,710 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the US in 2017, The American Cancer Society predicts that 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. At this time, there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the US. These statistics show the need of involvement and for community, as Mother Teresa explained, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

October 1st marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Below are a couple of ways you can get involved and raise awareness this month!

Denim Day
Lee Jeans created Lee National Denim Day (#Denimday), with Rob Lowe being the current spokesperson, as a fundraiser where participants donate $5 or more in exchange for wearing jeans to work on the first Friday in October. Since its start in 1996, Denim Day has raised over $91 million for the fight against breast cancer. Funds support the American Cancer Society. You can get involved by coordinating a team (registering a team or finding a team), making a donation to the cause or simply wearing jeans on Denim Day.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the US, uniting more than 300 communities. Every event and breast cancer walk is an opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, to raise awareness about ways to reduce breast cancer risk, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight breast cancer. Get involved by signing up to walk, volunteering at one or many events, or donating to an individual, a team or a local event. Find all the local events by clicking here.

Susan G. Komen
In 1982, Susan G. Komen launched as a global breast cancer movement. Since its launch, Komen has invested more than $2.5 billion toward ending breast cancer through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 30 countries. This movement has many ways you can get involved. Several ways are through donating, participating in a local Race for the Cure, walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day (a 60 mile walk), volunteering, interning and numerous other ways!

Avon Walk
2 days. 39 miles. A life-changing weekend. That is the motto of Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The Avon Foundation funds five key areas of the breast cancer cause: research, treatment, support, detection and education. You can get involved by participating in the Avon Walk hosted in New York, Charlotte, Houston, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. If you do not want to walk, you can also get involved by becoming a volunteer or joining the crew. As not all of the walks take place in October, you can channel your passion to these later months listed here.