Cancer awareness month helps raise funds for research.
In 2010, an estimated 569,490 people were expected to die of cancer, according to research from the American Cancer Society. Various forms of the disease, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer, are treatable if detected early. Organizations around the United States and the world designate one month of the year to raise awareness of the need for early treatment and to encourage people get tested regularly. Cancer awareness month activities also help to raise funds for cancer research so one day a cure will save lives.
Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month around the United States. Cities all over the country organize events to increase knowledge about the disease and to raise money to help find a cure. The Breast Cancer Family Foundation in Green Bay, Wisconsin, plans an annual Pink Pumpkin Walk to raise awareness about breast cancer. Those volunteering to participate can pre-register online or at the event site. Participants encourage friends and family to donate money for each mile of the 5-kilometer course. The foundation also sells honorary pink pumpkins at the Pink Pumpkin Walk for $15. These memorial pumpkins are displayed along the route with names of people who died from breast cancer. Raffle tickets are also sold to win prizes and raise more money for breast cancer research.
Thyroid Cancer Awareness
September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. The Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc., or ThyCa, is an organization that raises awareness about the disease throughout the world. The organization's website provides a list of activities in the United States and the world that help raise awareness in the month of September. In Georgia, a group of physicians plan a free thyroid cancer-screening day in their office. Seventy ThyCa support groups hold meetings in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and the Philippines. Thyroid cancer survivors, caregivers and friends around the world wear wristbands and pins in September to promote awareness of the disease.
Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month
The annual Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month takes place in October. According to nhl.com, the initiative includes activities with the goal of raising awareness and funds for all types of cancer. Hockey players, management and fans take part in the scheduled activities. The National Hockey League also creates Hockey Fights Cancer-themed merchandise to raise funds. Promotional events include on-ice presentations, 50/50 raffles and contests. The NHL enlists the help of children from local children's hospitals for activities during the games. Children are given rides on the ice resurfacer, radio booth visits and meet-and-greets with the NHL players. Online live and silent auctions raise funds with the sale of signed helmets, sticks and jerseys. Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness month raised over $600,000 in 2008.
Tags: breast cancer, Cancer Awareness, Hockey Fights, raise funds, United States, Awareness Month
