Seriously Uplifting
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women are urged by their doctor to do a monthly self-exam. The Mayo Clinic recommends a mammogram every year starting at age 40 (not all organizations agree on mammogram guidelines). This month’s awareness is all about raising funds for research and finding a cure. Be prepared to see a lot of pink.
Many of the events are serious. Some border on udder nonsense (sorry, couldn’t resist). On the serious side are the many Race for the Cure events benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure (formerly The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation). Local Indiana events took place in September, but the Inaugural Komen Memorial Promise Run & Relay will be held in Peoria, IL, October 20. Call (309) 691-6906 or email mail@komenpeoria.org for more information.
Bra Crawl
As for the more silly events, The Bra Crawl Indianapolis on October 5 is more for the guys to show their (ahem) support by wearing a bra over their shirts (or on their heads) as they bar hop from noon to 5 pm. As of this writing, four bars have signed up, but more are expected as tickets are sold. Participating bars in downtown Indy are Cadillac Ranch, Tiki Bob’s, Kilroy’s and Tin Roof. The ticket package includes drink tickets for Corona/Corona Light and Bacardi. The Bra Crawl raises funds for the V Foundation and breast cancer charities. E-mail info@mydrinkon.com for group rates or more information. This event requires participants to be at least 21 years old. (Psst! LivingSocial has a half-price deal: $10 for admission for two and four drink tickets. Check in at Cadillac Ranch. Visit livingsocial.com for more information on this promotion.)
Passionately Pink
If running a 5K or having your boyfriend make a total boob of himself at a bar is not for you, there are other ways to honor a loved one. You can raise funds for research, be creative and have fun. The Susan G. Komen website (komen.org) offers ideas for going “Passionately Pink” in the office, school and community. Pick a day and urge everyone to wear pink. If the men don’t want to wear pink, ask the guys to dye their hair, beards or mustaches pink for the day. (Editor’s note: Personally I’d rather just wear a pink tie or socks.) Have a “pink potluck,” pink bake sale or simply challenge various departments or classes to collect loose change to fill a large container (decorated pink of course) that will be donated to a breast cancer charity.
Athletic Support
Finally, even athletes get involved. The NFL, college and high school football players may opt to wear pink cleats, gloves or towels during games in October. The girls’ volleyball teams at Center Grove and Lutheran High Schools are both hosting games to raise funds for breast cancer research.
Supported by The Side-Out Foundation in Fairfax, VA (side-out.org), one home game is designated as the “Dig Pink” game to raise funds for the foundation which supports breast cancer research. The “Dig Pink” event at Lutheran High School (LHS) is October 9 when the Lady Saints take on the Flashes of Franklin Central High School. The freshmen game starts at 4:30 pm, junior varsity at 5:30 and varsity at 6:30. Last year’s events at LHS raised approximately $1,500 for the Foundation.
Between the games, players introduce the honorees – family members who are breast cancer survivors – or stand in memory of a family member lost to the disease. “We recognize any who are present or who are represented,” says Kathy Anderson, LHS Volleyball Coach. “They are usually mothers or grandmothers of students. We also try to get all of our [local Lutheran] elementary schools involved by asking students and teachers to wear pink on that day.” CGHS volleyball will take on Bloomington North October 10 for its “Attack the Cure” breast cancer awareness night, says Assistant Athletic Director Scott Knapp. The junior varsity game begins at 6 pm with the varsity game at 7:15 pm.
From serious to silly (but really serious), breast cancer awareness events abound. One creative T-shirt sums up the purpose: “Big or Small, Save Them All.”
Barbara Augsdorfer is a graduate of California Lutheran University with more than 20 years of writing and editing experience in the publishing industry. Barbara had an aunt and grandmother who survived breast cancer. Her mother-in-law is currently undergoing radiation treatments after a lumpectomy last spring.
