Going Pink for Breast Cancer

BY KATE HALIM

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Aside creating more awareness about this killer disease which is stealing women away from their loved ones irrespective of their race, class or status, it also means hundreds of pink fund-raising events and a heightened focus on the impact of this disease in the world.

Anywhere you see the pink ribbon, it is a wake-up call to the realities of breast cancer. The pink ribbon represents fear of breast cancer, hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses that publicly support the breast cancer movement.

It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer. Breast cancer organizations use the pink ribbon to associate them with breast cancer, promote breast cancer awareness, and to support fundraising, while others use it as their primary symbol.

While specifically representing breast cancer awareness, the pink ribbon is also a symbol of goodwill towards women in general. In Nigeria, each October, hundreds, if not thousands, of products are emblazoned with pink ribbons, colored pink, sold with a promise of a small portion of the total cost being donated to support breast cancer awareness and help victims get adequate treatment.

Aside the pink ribbon, many men and women wear pink in solidarity with breast cancer victims and help the silent sufferers speak out for help.