Breast Cancer Ribbon

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of deathprocedures. Companies are also doing their part to
among women. Statistics show that every womanhelp in this endeavor. Some jewelers manufacture
has a 1-to-8 chance of being diagnosed with therings and necklaces with the ribbon design. For
illness. And every year, the numbers are increasing.example, a cosmetics company Estee Lauder
That is why more and more people are spreadinglaunched the pink ribbon design in their compacts.
information about it, raising funds to help patients andAvon has raised millions of dollars from sales of
conducting research for its prevention and cure. Andproducts which featured the ribbon.
what better way to symbolize breast cancerAt present, the breast cancer ribbon can be seen in
awareness and advocacy is through the breastany race or fund-raising event dedicated to breast
cancer ribbon.cancer patients. It can be seen practically anywhere -
Its Origin and What It Symbolizesin breast cancer walks, marathons, fashion shows and
The pink ribbon was first used in the 1990s. Duringall other fund-raising events. Designers and
that time, wearing ribbons was the trend to promotemanufacturers have incorporated the design in almost
awareness and advocacies for different causes. Whoanything - robes, pins, shirts, quilts, tree ornaments,
can forget the red AIDS ribbon during events andstuffed toys and pens. When you buy any of these
awards such as the Oscars and Tony Awards? Butproducts, a fraction of the amount you pay is
the ribbon's roots can be traced back to 1979, whendonated to breast cancer research or foundation.
families and friends of Iranian hostages used a yellowWearing the Pink Ribbon
ribbon to signify hope and solidarity.Making the lapel pin is easy. You will need a piece of
A healthy person is said to be "in the pink of health."ribbon 0.5 inches wide and 3 inches long. The ends
That is the reason why the color pink was chosenmust be cut at an angle or diagonally. With the longer
for the ribbon. The color of health was used to giveedge on top, hold the ribbon at its midpoint. Then
hope and strength to the patients who are sufferingfold the left end down so the edge now points
from the illness. The bright and vibrant color has alsodownward. You can make a crease on the fold if
been a symbol of femininity, making it all truly perfectdesired. Still holding the midpoint and with the left end
to represent an illness that afflicts women.folded down, bring the right end down so the two
This is not to say that men do not have their ownedges cross at a point below the midpoint. The point
version of the breast cancer ribbon. While few menwhere the ends cross need to be secured by a pin
may have suffered from the disease, this does notor glue or you can sew them together with a stitch
mean that men should take this for granted. That isor two.
why there is also a breast cancer ribbon for males. InNow you can wear your own pink ribbon lapel pin.
addition to the color pink is blue - to signify that men,Show your support for women all over the world.
too, can be ill with breast cancer. It was created inThat person can be someone in the family, or a
1996 by Nancy Nick. Since then, it was used byfriend, or nobody in particular. Wear the pink ribbon
groups and organizations such as the John W. Nickas a lapel pin, or as a shirt design. Or you can post a
Foundation to increase awareness of breast cancerpicture in your website. The breast cancer ribbon is
among men.not only a symbol of awareness. More importantly, it
From then up to now, people realize the importanceis the symbol of hope and faith for those diagnosed
of funding cancer research, for without financial help,with the illness - hope and faith that, with the
researchers will not be able to discover newadvances in medicine and support of the people who
medicine, treatment, as well as screening testlove them, they can be cured.