9 Things to Do for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

photo by mimitalks

According to the American Cancer Society, every two-to-three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer

I am a mother of three girls and have watched loved ones battle with the disease.

Some have lost and some continue to fight. And so we have chosen to make breast cancer awareness a part of our family.

Beyond the significance of helping a great cause, consider it an excellent way to encourage physical activity and introduce the concept of cancer.

Every weekend during the month of October, we do one activity that recognizes breast cancer awareness month in a fun and creative way.

Here are 9 family-friendly breast cancer awareness activities:

1)    Participate in The Race for the Cure or other breast cancer family walks and runs.  In general races and walks have different heats with more options for stroller-friendly distances and terrain. The month began with the Race for the Cure and we celebrated our fifth year of participating!

2)    Make awareness t-shirts. Outline the classic “awareness ribbon” shape on a white t-shirt and have the kids go wild with pink fabric markers and paint.

3)    Pink Bake Sale! Hold a bake sale in your neighborhood or at work or school.  Try turning your favorite goody pink with natural food coloring or have your kids decorate the packaging with pink stickers and ribbons.

4)    Honor someone who has died from cancer. If you’ve lost someone to breast cancer have your kids paint an unfinished wooden frame ($1 at most major craft stores) and put up a picture of them.

5)    Honor someone living with cancer. If you know someone fighting breast cancer, honor them on your race/walk t-shirt. If you think they would rather keep their illness private, try just using their initials or have your kids draw something that reminds them of that person, like grandma’s favorite flower.

Pink Santa!

6)    Light a pink candle to remember or support someone with breast cancer. Round up the family and light it together one night after dinner.

7)    Donate your hair to an organization that makes hairpieces for cancer patients.

8)    Pink smoothies for breakfast! (see recipe)

9)    Pink Santas for Christmas! (Get an early start on Christmas crafts. See instructions)