From NFL football fields to popular food packaging, pink was the color of choice in October as organizations supported National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Debi Dockins, director of Volunteer Services at Gritman Medical Center, said this month holds a lot of importance for the staff at the Gritman Medical Center.
“We all have a cancer story and everyone has been touched by it,” Dockins said. “Everyone wants to help because they realize how ugly of a disease it is.”
Gritman Medical Center recently hosted the 14th annual Pink Tea event, which consisted of several guest speakers, a raffle and breakfast for those who attended.
Dockins said both the Pink Tea and Pink Cocktail event, which happened later in the evening, are used to fundraise money for Bosom Buddies, Light A Candle and the Gritman Cancer Care Fund.
These three organizations use the donations to fund free mammograms, hospital services and other services that help improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients.
Dockins said she is a co-founder of the Light A Candle program, which raises money to give cancer patients basic necessities, such as gas cards and grocery vouchers.
Barbara Chatburn, an employee at Gritman, said Breast Cancer Awareness Month holds a lot of sentimental value for her. Chatburn won her battle with breast cancer in 2006.
“It”s a month to promote wellness in women and not be shy about talking about womens” health issues,” Chatburn said.
Chatburn said every dollar counts when it comes to funding the organizations involved in the Pink Tea, but this is not the only reason for the event.
“It”s not an event where we put pressure on our friends to donate,” Chatburn said. “You can give from your heart or your pocketbook, but only what you”re able to.”
Although every donation is appreciated, Chatburn said simple actions, such as talking to someone going through treatment or driving them to the grocery store, can go a long way.
Teresa Thorsten, who also works at Gritman Medical Center, said all of the proceeds raised during this event go directly to the three main organizations.
Laura Wheeler | Argonaut
Gritman Medical Center recently hosted the 14th annual Pink Tea event, which consisted of several guest speakers, a raffle and breakfast for those who attended.
“I think that”s amazing because a lot charities will raise money and it will go directly to someone else”s wage instead of to the people who really need it,” Thorsten said.
Breast cancer survivor Gillian Sharma said she is all too familiar with organizations that falsely claim to support breast cancer.
Sharma said companies have been known to put a pink ribbon on their product to gain more sales – a marketing strategy known as “pinkwashing.”
“The general public thinks that they are being supportive when they buy something with a pink ribbon on it and don”t realize that there are no requirements to donate a percentage of that money,” Sharma said.
Learning more about these organizations to ensure they actually support breast cancer research is vital before purchasing their product, Sharma said.
“Instead of buying pink stuff, which only makes the person buying the pink stuff feel better, I suggest that you do something for somebody,” Sharma said. “There so many things that people can do that are practical and helpful.”
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jaycgeek