Pink ribbon
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Pink Ribbon is an international symbol that is being used by people, companies and organizations as they are engaging themselves to breast cancer awareness.
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[edit] Aim
The main aim of the pink ribbon is to make people aware of breast cancer.
- 1) Prevention – the act of preventing Breast Cancer
- 2) Detection – discovering Breast Cancer
- 3) Cure – a means of healing
- 4) Caring - giving attention
[edit] History of the Pink Ribbon
The first ribbon that was represented as a meaningful object in history was the yellow ribbon that was mentioned in a marching song, which was sung by the military in the United States. In the year 1917 George A. Norton copyrighted the song for the first time. The title of the song was 'Round Her Neck She Wears a Yeller Ribbo’. In the 1940s the song was rewritten by several musicians.
Based on this song a wife of a hostage in Iran called Penney Laingen was the first who used the ribbon as an awareness symbol. She tied yellow ribbons around the trees, to illustrate the desire of her husband coming home. Her friends and family members followed the trend due to loyalty. As all Americans were able to see this message, the “ribbon became a medium”.
In the 1990s, AIDS activists were inspired by the ribbon medium, and decided to make ribbons for the people that fight against AIDS. The ribbon that represents Aids became red as this is the color of passion. During the Tony awards, a photo was taken of the actor Jeremy Irons, who had the bright red ribbon pinned on his chest. As the public followed the awards, the ribbon was an eye catch and became popular overnight. The year 1992 was declared by The New York Times as “The year of the Ribbon”.
The first Pink Ribbon was introduced by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. They handed out pink visors to survivors of breast cancer who were running in its Race for the Cure since late 1990. Couple of months later; in the year 1991 every participant of the New York City race received a pink ribbon However, the ribbon was not that important to them, as it was a minor detail in an important event.
Alexandra Penney, who was in the year 1992 the editor in chief of Self, a woman health magazine, was working on the second annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue. Evelyn Lauder, who was the senior corporate vice president at Estee Lauder, was invited to be the guest editor of the NBCAM issue edition in 1992. Penney and Lauder came up with the idea to create a ribbon and to enlist the cosmetics giant to distribute it in stores in New York City. Evelyn Lauder then promised to spread the ribbons in the entire country, but a color for the ribbon was not decided on at the moment.
However, a 68-year old lady named Charlotte Hayley who battled breast cancer produced peach color ribbons. She sold them with a card saying, “The National Cancer Institute annual budget is 1.8 billion US Dollars, and only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon”. Her message spread fast. This made Penny and Evelyn Lauder interested in Hayley’s concept. They saw the initiative to adapt to Hayley’s idea by working with her. But Hayley rejected the offer saying that they were too commercial.
After discussing opportunities with Lauder, Hayley and the lawyers, they came up with a "new" color. The new color of the ribbon was pink and became an international symbol for breast cancer awareness.
[edit] Pink Ribbon International
The aim of this organization is to create a supportive community worldwide and to inform patients, specialist, families and friends about Pink Ribbon and Breast Cancer. Pink Ribbon International
[edit] Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities to increase awareness of the disease, raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by Breast Cancer.
AstraZeneca founded the Breast Cancer Awareness month in the year 1985. AstraZeneca is a multinational pharmaceutical corporation and it is the manufacturer of tamoxifen, which is a breast-cancer drug. The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.
The number of companies that engaged to Breast Cancer awareness increased over the years. Estee Lauder, Avon, Komen and other commercial and non-comercial organizations are engaging in several events and activities during October.
[edit] Activities and events during the BCAM
[edit] The National Race for the cure
In October 1983 the Race for the cure was held for the first time in Dallas, Texas, where 700 people participated. In the year 1999 not only did the number of participants increase to 600,00, but also did the Race become the nation’s largest 5K series, as 99 cities in the United States organized the Race for the cure. In the year 2005 the number of participants reached 1.4 million illustrating that the race is a big success. The Race for the Cure Website states that the Race for the cure held in Washington DC nowadays, is the world biggest 5K in the world. However, this event does not only attract volunteers, but it also attracts companies that are willing to sponsor, celebrities, and politicians, which make the event bigger every year.
The Race for the Cure is also being organized in several other parts of the World.
| Australia and New Zealand | Dove Pink Star walk |
| Germany | Komen Frankfurt Race for the Cure |
| Netherlands | Walk for Women |
| Italy | Komen Race for the cure |
| United Kingdom | Race for my wife and Race for life |
| Canada | Breast Cancer Walk (The Weekend to end Breast Cancer) |
| Hungary | Avon One-Day Walk for Life |
| Puerto Rico | Komen Race for the Cure |
| Bulgaria | Breast Cancer Walk |
[edit] Breast Cancer 3 Day
This sixty mile fundraising walk, which is spread across 3 days, raises money for the breast cancer reasearches that are being executed. This walk, which is sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation occurs in several cities in the United States. However, in the past it was sponsored and managed by Avon Products and it is still known as the Avon 3 Day to many participant. Avon also organizes several other events all over the world, such as Country Avon Event
| Bulgaria | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Czech Republic | Breast Cancer Conference |
| France | 5km Breast Cancer Race/Walk |
| Germany | Women's 5k/10k Walk Run |
| Greece | Recognition dinner and Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Fashion show |
| Hungary | Walk for Life |
| Ireland | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Italy | Breast cancer Awareness event |
| Poland | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Portugal | Educational walk-a-thon |
| Romania | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Russia | Press conference |
| Slovakia | Press conference |
| Spain | Breast Cancer Walk |
| Turkey | "Trip to Health with Avon" walk |
| Ukraine | Breast Cancer awareness walk |
| United Kingdom | "Celebrating Life" award ceremony |
[edit] Global Illumination
Estee Lauder Companies arrange that several world-famous landmarks are illuminated in pink light to draw attention (like the pink-ribbon) to the importance or early diagnose of breast cancer and the research for finding ways to cure and prevent breast cancer. Some of these landmarks are:
| The Harbour Bridge | Sydney | Australia |
| The Hangzhou Department Store | Hangzhou | China |
| Niagara Falls | Ontario | Canada |
| The Eden Project | Cornwall | England |
| The Majestic Hotel | Cannes | France |
| The French Affiliate Building | Paris | France |
| The Angel of Peace | Munich | Germany |
| City Hall | Reykjavik | Iceland |
| Moshe Aviv Tower | Ramat-gan | Israel |
| Constantine’s Arch | Rome | Italy |
| The Arena | Verona | Italy |
| Tokyo Tower | Tokyo | Japan |
| City Hall Square | Seoul | Korea |
| The Dam Square | Amsterdam | The Netherlands |
| The Skytower | Auckland | New Zealand |
[edit] In the Pink
This is an activity, which occurs during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month October and its aim is to raise money by organizing several activities such as theme parties or a pink day at work. The money that has been raised will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
[edit] Products
[edit] Breast Cancer Stamp
The first Breast Cancer Research Stamp was published in the year 1996. As it did not sell well Ethel Kessler was asked to design a new Breast Cancer research stamp. On the 29th of July in 1998, the breast cancer research stamp became public by the First Lady Hillary Clinton and Postmaster General William Henderson. The stamp costs 45 cents. 70 percent of fund raised are donated to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and 30 percent to the Breast Cancer Research Program of the Department of Defense (DOD). In November 2005 $ 33.5 million had been donated to the NCI and the DOD had collected $ 13 million.
[edit] Breast Cancer Coin
In Canada a silver Breast Cancer coin has been put on the market. This coin exists 15,000 times worldwide. On one side of the coin a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is illustrated, while on the other side a Pink Ribbon has been displayed.
[edit] Critical Movements
[edit] Pink Ribbons, Inc
Samantha King describes (in her recently published book, 2006) how breast cancer has been transformed from a serious disease and individual tragedy to a market-driven industry of survivorship. In an unprecedented outpouring of philanthropy, corporations turn their formidable promotion machines on the curing of the disease while dwarfing public health prevention efforts and stifling the calls for investigation into why and how breast cancer affects such a vast number of people. Here, for the first time, King questions the effectiveness and legitimacy of privately funded efforts to stop the epidemic among American women.
[edit] Think before you Pink
As one might notice stores are full with Pink Ribbon products and the Internet is spammed with promotions promising donations to the breast cancer research. The meaning of the Pink Ribbon has changed. Companies are using pink as a market tool. People know that the Pink Ribbon is a symbol for breast cancer awareness. The market knows that people want to get evolved in charity and especially women who tend to shop a lot, like to think that they are doing something good. But shopping for Breast Cancer is not the right attitude, as these consumers do not know what percentage of their money spent goes to the foundation. It is very vague described by organizations and as it is too commercialized Pink Ribbon is losing its medium.
[edit] International Pink Ribbon
| Spanish: | Cinta Rosada |
| French: | Ruban Rose |
| Italian: | Nastro Rosa |
| German: | Rosa Schleife |
| Dutch: | Roze Lint |
| Danish: | Lyserøde Sløjfe |
| Czech republic: | Růžová Stužka |
| Finland: | Roosa Nauha |
| Norway: | Rosa Sløyfe |
| Poland: | Różowa Wstążka |
| Russia: | Pозовая Tесемка |
| Sweden: | Rosa Bandet |
| Turkey: | Pembe Kurdele |
| Japan: | ピンクリボン |
| Chinese: | 粉红丝带 |
[edit] Commercial Parties Pink Ribbon
[edit] Cosmetics
[edit] Pharmacia
[edit] Fashion
[edit] Automotive
[edit] Financial
[edit] Telecom
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[edit] Why Pink?
- In the Western World Pink is the color of the females. When a girl is born, she usually gets everything in pink, while boys get everything in blue.
- Also the color is bright, vibrant and a strong healthy color. Everything that cancer is not.
- Breast Cancer is a very personal disease as the breasts are a strong part of femininity and what makes a woman a woman.
- It is a positive way to increase awareness as well as support finding of research to fight this.
[edit] Other meanings of Pink Ribbon
The pink ribbon is not only a symbol for breast cancer awareness, it is also a symbol for the March of Dimes and its efforts in fighting premature births, saving babies, and finding a cure for birth defects. The pink ribbon is also representing birth parents and childhood cancer awareness.
