United in Pink: A Year-Round Journey of Breast Cancer Remembrance and Hope

Throughout the United States, communities come together annually to honor breast cancer survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and raise funds for research and support services. These powerful gatherings create a nationwide network of hope, turning individual struggles into collective strength and transforming awareness into action. 

I went to a number of these events with my mom and family over the years.  These events are often inspiring but also have a touch of sadness until a cure for breast cancer can be developed.

October: The Pink Month That Changes Everything

October stands as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an international health campaign that promotes screening and reduces risk for a disease affecting 2.3 million women worldwide. The month's origins trace back to the FDA Office of Women's Health's Pink Ribbon Sunday Mammography Awareness Program, launched in 1998 to educate women about early detection through mammography.

The pink ribbon, now universally recognized, became the symbol of hope and awareness.  It had an auspicious start, however.

In 1991, Charlotte Haley was angry. The 68-year-old breast cancer survivor had watched cancer tear through her family. Her grandmother, sister, and daughter had all faced the disease. What infuriated her wasn't just cancer itself, but what she saw as government indifference to prevention.

Armed with determination and a card table, Haley began crafting peach-colored ribbons in her dining room. She attached handwritten cards with a stark message: "The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon."

Her homemade campaign spread rapidly through word of mouth. Women began requesting ribbons, sharing Haley's message, and demanding change. It was activism in its purest form, personal, passionate, and uncompromising.

The Pink Ribbon became a global symbol in 1992 when Alexandra Penney, SELF magazine's editor-in-chief, partnered with Evelyn Lauder, a breast cancer survivor and Estée Lauder executive, to distribute pink ribbons. This simple gesture sparked a movement that would transform how America approaches breast cancer awareness.

Within October, specific observances highlight different aspects of the breast cancer community. October 13 is nationally recognized as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, addressing the approximately 168,000 women in the U.S. estimated to have metastatic breast cancer. Former President Joe Biden designated October 17 to 23 as Men's Breast Cancer Awareness Week in 2021, addressing a population where about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025.

The Race for Life: Susan G. Komen Events

Susan G. Komen's signature events, the Race for the Cure 5K runs, MORE THAN PINK Walks, and the extraordinary 3-Day, 60-mile walks unite communities nationwide in the fight against breast cancer. These events occur throughout the year across different cities, creating a continuous cycle of awareness and fundraising.

Recent 2025 events include the Triangle Race for the Cure on May 3, the Chicago Race at Soldier Field on May 17, and Minnesota's 32nd annual race at Viking Lakes. Each gathering brings together survivors, families, care givers, advocates, and supporters in a celebration of resilience that extends far beyond a single day.

Making Strides Across America

The American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks represent the nation's largest and most impactful breast cancer movement, featuring 3- to 5-mile non-competitive walks that have united communities for three decades. These events create supportive environments where "breast cancer survivors and metastatic breast cancer thrivers, caregivers, and families" find connection and community.

Organizations like the United Federation of Teachers in New York have demonstrated the power of collective action, with members raising over $15 million for the American Cancer Society across 20 years of participation. Their walks across all five boroughs of New York City exemplify how communities can mobilize for meaningful change.

Beyond October: A Year-Round Commitment

While October receives the most attention, breast cancer awareness extends throughout the year. Major conferences like the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held December 10 to 13, 2024, attract international audiences of scientists, physicians, and patient advocates, driving research forward and sharing breakthrough developments.

Local communities organize unique events that reflect their character and commitment. From the pink illumination of landmark buildings to corporate partnerships that fund research and patient services, these gatherings create multiple touchpoints for engagement and support throughout the calendar year.

The Power of Community

These annual events accomplish far more than fundraising. They create spaces where newly diagnosed patients meet long-term survivors, where families find support networks, and where communities rally around a shared mission.   Supporting and sharing information of these spaces and missions are exactly the reason I founded the World Change Coalition, and Cathy’s. Jeans.

When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate of breast cancer can reach more than 95%, some saying it is 99%, making early detection campaigns at these events literally lifesaving.

As survivors, care givers, supporters, and advocates gather annually across America, they weave a tapestry of hope that extends far beyond any single event. These remembrances and celebrations transform individual journeys into collective strength, ensuring that no one faces breast cancer alone.

Thank you, mom, for being who you were and showing your family and friends your inspirational strength and courage.  

Thanks to all of you that follow our blogs and have supported the World Change Coalition.  Please share the site and the blogs with your friends and family. 

I love you mom and miss you.