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Sally Wolf: We must build awareness about October, too

Photo from Sally Wolf/LinkedIn

Oct 3, 2024, 07:22

Sally Wolf: We must build awareness about October, too

Sally Wolf, CEO and Founder of LightWorks, shared on LinkedIn:

“If you love someone with breast cancer, please read this:

As a breast cancer thriver, I’m grateful to past Octobers. Decades of awareness have fueled screenings, built community, supported research and gotten us to today.

But today we must build awareness about October, too.

Specifically to give thought to these two questions:
1) How does the breast cancer community feel in Oct?
2) Where exactly is my awareness contribution going?

First, our community.

Just like any other population, we are incredibly diverse:
– In identities as thrivers, survivors, previvors, patients
– In what we’ve endured & how much we’ve embraced it
– In when a pink ribbon/other item touches vs triggers

All of the above applies every month, not just October.
(True for all of us who ‘get a month’ for anything…)

But in October we are bombarded. From store windows to marketing newsletters to social media posts to pink cocktails to more, everyone is pinkafying something.

Even when intentions are good, it’s exhausting. And overwhelming. And can feel like a nonstop mine field.

Second, your support.

There are 3 main ways I can think of to support BCAM:

1) Support loved ones by asking if/what they need vs assuming anything. An office “pink shirt day” once had me distracted all day. Good intentions, triggering results.

2) Donate directly to charities conducting research for Stage IV breast cancer. Our oft overlooked metastatic community needs more. Metavivor and BCRF are two.

3) Question the vague ‘portion of proceeds’ claim and don’t assume a material donation on any purchase. This isn’t regulated and 0.01% of proceeds is still a portion.

Please add any other ideas I’ve missed below.

And to the 1 in 8 women – and 1 in 833 men – entering October alongside me, I see you. Please share how you feel about and any tips you have on navigating it.

Lastly, please consider a repost to amplify this message.

It’s almost October. Please think before you pinkwash.”

Sally Wolf