This October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, do more than just sport the pink ribbon. We’ve compiled a list of walks/runs you can attend, charities you can support and products you can buy this month as well as volunteer opportunities to help make a positive difference in the lives of those with breast cancer.
Walks/Runs
Making Strides Walk/Run by the American Cancer Society (National)
This walk/run celebrates survivors of breast cancer and raises funds for breast cancer cure research and other programs offered through ACS. Click here to find a Making Strides Walk/Run in your area.
New York
Participants can choose between a 4K Color Splash, a 4K/6K Walk and a 10K “Hercules on the Harbor.” Proceeds will go toward breast cancer research at Stony Brook Medicine and prosthesis and wigs for Ward-Melville Heritage Organization’s Unique Boutique. Stony Brook Village Center, Stony Brook. Oct. 25. registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Top finishers are awarded prize money in this family-friendly and Halloween-themed 5K. YellowJacket Racing, along with Fleet Feet Sports Rochester, will donate $1 from every entry to the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Cobbs Hill Park, Rochester. Oct. 27.
New Jersey
Sisters Network of Central New Jersey 5K Race/Walk 4 Life
In addition to the race/walk, participants will enjoy on-stage entertainment, a raffle, various vendors and more. Funds raised from the event benefit the Breast Cancer Assistance Program, which provides emergency services for women with breast cancer during chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Colonial Park, Somerset. Oct. 6.
Sponsored by The Amy Foundation, this walk raises funds to help uninsured and under-insured women afford lifesaving procedures that detect breast cancer early. Buccleuch Park, New Brunswick. Oct. 28. Walk begins at 9 a.m.
Connecticut
Pounding the Pavement for Pink 5K
Organized by Seymour Pink, this race will have awards for Pinkest Outfit, Most Spirit and other categories. All funds go toward breast cancer research. Seymour. Oct. 6.
Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut
Sponsored by the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation, this walk features a full marathon, a half-marathon and a quarter marathon. All funds raised go directly toward breast cancer research. Oct. 6.
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New York
Breast Cancer Research Foundation (NYC)
Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation (Upstate)
Maurer Foundation (Nassau)
West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition for Long Island, Inc. (Suffolk)
New Jersey
Cure Breast Cancer Foundation (Bergen)
Essex-Passaic Wellness Coalition (Essex, Passaic)
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (Middlesex)
Rhode Island
Gloria Gemma Foundation (Providence)
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (Plymouth)
Ellie Fund (Norfolk)
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition (Strafford)
Connecticut
Norma Pfriem Breast Center (Fairfield)
Yale-New Haven Hospital Breast Cancer Program New Haven (New Haven)
Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation (New London)
Products
With each purchase of “Great Skin, Great Cause Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+,” $10 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Jane Iredale selects one product each year and donates 100 percent of sales to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national organization that helps connect people who have a breast cancer diagnosis with educational resources and a supportive community. Check the website for this year’s product.
If you buy one Brow Power pencil or Love Beauty Fully brush, It Cosmetics will donate one to Look Good Feel Better. To date, over $8 million in pencils and over $16 million in brushes have been donated. This offer extends to beyond October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Lands’ End offers three ways to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation:
- Add a pink embroidery or monogram to any personalized item, and $4.50 of every $6 dollars will be donated.
- Purchase from the Pink Thread Collection, and 25 percent of net proceeds will be donated.
- Go to a local Lands’ End store where 10 percent of net proceeds on select pink styles will support BCRF.
When you purchase the Spiral Sun Charm Bangle, Alex and Ani will donate 20 percent of the purchase price along with a minimum $50,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation from now until December 2019.
All oysters are harvested from the Long Island Sound, and 25 percent of the net revenue from each Pink Ribbon Oyster is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
20 percent of all proceeds from any product will be donated to the Gloria Gemma Foundation.
Volunteer/Donation Opportunities
American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery
If you want to help breast cancer patients personally, consider being a Reach to Recovery volunteer. Volunteers are trained to give emotional support to patients and their families as well as giving info about treatments, coping and recovery. You can choose to participate over the phone or during a home or hospital visit.
American Cancer Society Road to Recovery
Own a car and have a flexible schedule? You’re more than qualified to work with Road to Recovery. Road to Recovery helps cancer patients get to and from their appointments and provides them peace of mind.
If you or someone you know is a beauty professional, consider becoming a volunteer with Look Good Feel Better. Volunteer beauty professionals conduct group programs or one-on-one salon consultations with breast cancer patients and give them beauty tips to help them face their diagnosis with confidence. You can also serve as a general volunteer to make sure these sessions run smoothly. For more info about either of these positions and about the program, click here.
Recycle Gently Used Wigs/Accessories
If you have a gently used wig or other accessories, like a wig stand, shampoo or brushes, you can donate them to a local breast cancer support group or a local charity or organization. Check with the organization for specific donation requests.
Know of any walks/runs, charities, products or opportunities we missed? Let us know in the comments!
