Breast Cancer Awareness: A Shade Of Pink

Among the yellows and orange leaves signifying the beginning of fall, you can’t help but see a little pink. Today is the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The story of the pink ribbon begins in 1982, when Nancy Brinker started a foundation to fight breast cancer in memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who had died from the disease two years earlier. Pink was established as the color for Breast Cancer Awareness in 1983 by Evelyn Lauder, Vice President of Este Lauder, who founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Pink ribbons were established as the symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness in 1983 by Evelyn Lauder, Vice President of the Estée Lauder Company, who founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Every October hundreds of products change into a new coat of pink paint for the cause, giving percentages of proceeds to the cause.

The Canadian mint issued a coin with Queen Elizabeth on one side, and an enameled pink ribbon on the other, and first lady Laura Bush draped the White House in pink by way of pink lighting. In PIERRE, SD the State Capitol is dressed in lit pink ribbons, and will remain so all month. In Huntsville, AL firemen will be wearing pink shirts as part of their uniform, and Delta Airlines has unveiled a pink plane.

The pink ribbon and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation have raised more than $1.5 billion, becoming the world’s largest non-profit source of money to combat breast cancer.