Guest Blogger Abby Cousineau: Spreading Breast Cancer Awareness Beyond October
This October, designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our community will rally together for 31 days to raise awareness and donations for breast cancer treatment. While our focus on breast cancer only lasts a month, this life-threatening disease doesn’t disappear on November 1. In fact, The American Cancer Society projects there will actually be more than 250,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women this year. In total, breast cancer will claim the lives of more than 40,000 women in 2017 alone (“How Common is Breast Cancer,” 2017).
With so many diagnoses occurring this year, we need to invest in an effort that is ongoing, one that is helping real people with breast cancer in our local community. However, cutting through the pink ribbon to find a charity or business that actually benefits breast cancer research and treatment can be difficult. So, how can we truly help the cause?
Support Michigan Breast Cancer Patients by Donating to Union 4 Life Charity
Union 4 Life is a local breast cancer charity operating out of Chelsea, Mich. The charity is dedicated to fighting breast cancer through supporting The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC). Since 2012, Union 4 Life has raised over $70,000 for UMCC (“Union 4 Life,” n.d.), a prestigious medical center specializing in treating cancer patients and investing in cutting-edge research.
Union 4 Life wants to extend the conversation about breast cancer to more than just one month. They are doing this by selling USA 2018 Gun-A-Week Calendars and seeking donations, to reach its goal of raising $20,000 for UMCC by December 1. Donating is easy and your money goes directly to life-saving breast cancer research and treatment in Michigan. Calendars can be purchased at the Ann Arbor Electrical JATC, or donations can be sent cash or check to Union 4 Life, 13400 Luick Drive Chelsea, MI, 48118.
Save lives, inspire hope and support a local treatment center by donating to Union 4 Life today. Furthermore, get talking about the issue and spread awareness of breast cancer and UMCCC beyond this October. Spreading awareness of breast cancer is important because talking about the topic gets vital information to the people who need it the most, which can lead to early detection and a higher chance of survival (English, 2003). Consider donating, follow Union 4 Life on social media to get involved in the conversation, and learn about other ways you can help spread awareness about breast cancer this month and beyond.
Abby Cousineau is a senior at EMU majoring in public relations and minoring in graphic design and marketing. She is currently serving as president of EMU PRSSA and is excited to be leading such a creative and dedicated group of individuals. You can usually find Abby outside anytime the weather is nice or otherwise spending her time behind a computer screen, working on one of her design projects. Connect with Abby on Instagram @abcattt.
