I saw these in a store on Saturday. The people running the store couldn’t tell me what percentage of profits went back to a breast-cancer charity if at all.
#Pinktober is something that any of us who have had breast cancer or are currently in treatment for breast cancer will tell you to pay attention to.
The true believers think that they are doing us a favor and honoring us who have or have had the disease by buying something pink. The truth is you’re not.
Look at the irony of buying products the turn pink for October as a marketing ploy which contain carcinogens. So you’re buying something you think is going to honor a friend or family member or other loved one who has had this awful disease and are you?
I don’t think you are.
I think people need to educate themselves on good solid breast cancer charities and if you’re buying something during the month of #Pinktober you need to know exactly how much is going to a non-profit.
There are three breast cancer charities I think or extraordinarily worthy and one of them is based in Chester County. Here is my list:
The pink ribbon culture is ridiculous. The #Pinktober culture is a marketing scheme. It’s called Cause Marketing. It’s about the bottom line of corporate America. Not those of us who are survivors or who are in treatment. There is MORE cause marketing for breast cancer than anything else. Don’t fall for it.
You want to do something? Support those who have had or who are being treated with the disease by maybe doing something nice for them. Or if you feel the need to give a donation, do your homework and find legitimate charities that actually donate MORE to research or welfare then to their operating expenses. Read the IRS form 990s of non-profits. Don’t get Pink Washed. Do your homework. (Read this about the New York State Attorney General’s Office stopping a bogus charity I had written about a few years ago.)
By all means, support legitimate efforts to fund research and help women and families affected by breast cancer. Men too. Because men get breast cancer too. But do not think that pink box of crackers or energy drink haunting grocery store and drug store aisles or the t-shirt bought in a mall store is actually helping.
This isn’t a soft and fluffy disease. Breast cancer is not friendly or perky. So pink during October makes me want to scream or even throw-up. I think the pink saturation does good. I think it makes money for corporate America.
You do not have to believe me. But please, #ThinkBeforeYouPink
Watch this movie if you have the time: