A Mother's Legacy: Why October Breast Cancer Awareness Month Matters More Than Ever

As October's crisp autumn air settles in and the world begins to turn pink, I'm reminded of why the World Change Coalition exists and why this month holds such profound meaning for our mission.

The Personal Behind the Purpose

I was very young when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. For over two decades, I watched her face this disease with incredible courage, enduring countless treatments, surgeries, and the rollercoaster of hope and setbacks that defined her cancer journey. She passed away in November 2015, but not before teaching me the most important lesson of my life: that we have the power and responsibility to make the world a better place for others.

Every pair of jeans we sell at World Change Coalition bears my mother's fingerprint as our logo. It's more than a symbol; it's a promise that her spirit continues to touch lives, providing wigs and support to cancer patients who need to know they're not alone.

The Stark Reality We Face

Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, with around 2.3 million new cases every year. In the United States alone, approximately 310,720 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and about 42,250 will die from the disease. These aren't just statistics, they represent mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends whose lives will be forever changed.

Hope in Action

Yet there's reason for hope. Since 1989, increased awareness through campaigns like Breast Cancer Awareness Month has helped reduce breast cancer deaths in the United States by 44%. This progress proves that awareness saves lives when we educate, advocate, and support one another, we change outcomes.

The World Health Organization's Global Breast Cancer Initiative, launched in 2021, aims to reduce mortality rates by 2.5% per year by 2040, potentially saving 2.5 million lives through three key strategies: health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive breast cancer management.

Beyond Pink: Understanding the Full Picture

While October is often seen as a sea of pink ribbons, it's important to recognize that breast cancer affects everyone. About 2,800 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, and about 510 are expected to die from the disease.

The Power of Early Detection

Early detection can lead to a 99% survival rate, making awareness and screening absolutely critical. The message is clear: know your body, understand your risk factors, and don't delay screenings. Research has shown that an estimated 30% of breast cancer cases are attributed to modifiable risk factors, meaning lifestyle choices around diet, exercise, and alcohol consumption can make a difference.

Our Commitment Goes Deeper

At World Change Coalition, we understand that supporting someone through cancer means addressing the whole person. Losing your hair during chemotherapy isn't just about appearance, it's about maintaining dignity and identity during one of life's most challenging battles. That's why we're committed to support providing wigs to cancer patients, because sometimes the smallest gestures carry the greatest meaning.

My mother taught me that all life is temporary, that real suffering exists, and that perseverance is key. She also taught me to try to enjoy life along your journey because you do not know where that journey takes you. She had a ceramic tile that simply said, “Life, subject to change without notice.”  The lessons, born from watching her 22-year journey with metastatic breast cancer, are the foundational values that drive everything we do.

Join Us in Making a Difference

This October, as pink ribbons appear everywhere and awareness campaigns fill our feeds, I invite you to think beyond the awareness and into action. This year's World Breast Cancer theme is "No-one should face breast cancer alone", a message that resonates deeply with our mission.

Whether you're supporting early detection efforts, advocating for research funding, or simply being there for someone facing their cancer journey, your part of a movement that saves lives. At World Change Coalition, we believe there's more to life than profits, and every purchase helps us leave a legacy that makes the world a kinder, gentler place.

Because in the end, it's not just about surviving breast cancer, it's about ensuring that everyone facing this disease has the support, dignity, and hope they deserve. That's a promise worth keeping, and a world worth changing.

Thank you for following the World Change Coalition.  We so much appreciate your support and the kind notes from many of you.  Thank you, mom, for all that you did.  Love you always.  Richie

Learn more about how World Change Coalition is supporting breast cancer patients at worldchangecoalition.net. Together, we're proving that great things truly do come from small beginnings.