October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time when people from all over the world show their support for those impacted by Breast Cancer. There are also many organisations across the UK supporting people and families affected by this disease.
Join Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Jo Malone & Bobbi Brown in supporting great causes this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Looking for a day to focus your awareness efforts towards? Look no further than 'Wear it Pink' Day on October 18th.
Want some examples of how other brands have set up BCAM campaigns? Check out this article
About Breast Cancer
Every year 670,000 women die from Breast Cancer. It is the most widely identified cancer, with 2.3 million women are diagnosed globally per year and represents around 30% of all female cancer diagnosis.
Early diagnosis is the critical in the fight. More so than most cancers, the chances of survival are much higher if caught earlier. Raising awareness, encouraging testing and reminding others to do their own checks makes all the difference.
If caught early, the chances of surviving a breast cancer diagnosis improve drastically. This had led to many organisations focusing on education as an effective tool for saving lives.
What Breast Cancer Charities Do
Breast Cancer Charities complete a number of roles with some specializing in research and treatment of the disease, while others focus on sharing information and supporting patients and their families.
Across the UK, there are multiple organisations focused on separate facets of disease and the patient journey.
Brands Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness
Ralph Lauren
Since 2000, Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony Collection has donated 25% of each item’s purchase price to reduce disparities in breast cancer care. Funds go to ensure access to quality treatment is available to everyone at an earlier, more curable stage.
Estee Lauder
Founded in 1992, The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign launched the iconic Pink Ribbon and funded more than $131m for lifesaving global research, education and medical services.
Jo Malone
After Jo Malone herself was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 38, she beat the disease despite being given only 9 months to live. In 2023, her company ran a Special-Edition Peony & Blush Suede Cologne, donating £20 from the purchase price of every bottle to the BCRF.
Inspired to set up your own BCAM campaign? Check out this article on how you can do so today
Top 5 Breast Cancer Charities to Consider Supporting this Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We know it can be a bit tricky choosing which charity to team up with this October so we put together this neat list to help you pick your cause.
1) Breast Cancer Now
Breast Cancer Now is a charity working across all facets of Breast Cancer, but they are one of the best groups focusing on research. They are funding over 300 researchers to find ways to both prevent breast cancer and help save lives of those who have been diagnosed.
Your Impact
2) Little Lifts
Little Lifts is focused on helping people undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
To Date, Little Lifts has gifted 5,825 boxes to patients. They work directly with hospitals to provide Little Lifts Boxes for patients during their treatment planning and review meetings.
Your Impact
£10 donated allows them to purchase the products for 3 Little Lifts chemotherapy Boxes
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3) Breast Cancer Haven
Breast Cancer Haven is a charity focused on supporting of those impacted by breast cancer.
The treatment process is difficult and can include major surgery, gruelling rounds of
chemotherapy and radiotherapy, followed by years of taking hormonal medication. Breast Cancer Haven exists to provide a personalised programme of emotional, physical and practical to improve the overall quality of life of patients.
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4) Breast Friends
Breast Friends is a support-based charity with branches all across the UK.
Focused on personal support and community meet-ups, Breast friends (like the group out of Northamptonshire) is run by women who have been through a breast cancer diagnosis looking to give back and support the community.
5) Prevent Breast Cancer
Prevent Breast Cancer is an organisation focused on breast cancer prevention through research, education, and awareness. The charity focuses on helping to identify risk factors of the disease as well as developing preventative strategies to help save lives.
💕Wear it Pink Day is held on the 18th of October!
Breast Cancer Now’s Wear It Pink Day is one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK. Taking place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thousands of amazing people wear pink in their communities, schools or workplaces for the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now.
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What else can stores do to show support?
1) Provide Information to Employees
There are many signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and if detected early there is a much better chance of surviving the disease.
One of the easiest ways that a business can support is to take the time and share this information with employees. Basic information on self-assessments has been proven to save lives and has a knock-on effect as many employees will share this information with their friends and families.
Here is a quick reference for breast self-examination:
2) Run a fundraiser
There are a lot of great ways for a company to run a fundraiser with its employees, and there is no limit to how you can do it. Some charities like Breast Cancer Now have fundraising packages that you can request.
One of the most common ways is when a member of the team will run a race and collect donations from coworkers. However, if running is not your thing, there are many other social events that you can look into.
Running a quiz night has become a very popular fundraising tool in recent years. To make the most of your quiz night, consider including quiz ideas that align with your organization's values and interests, such as personality tests, trivia games, or opinion polls. These quizzes not only engage your audience but also offer opportunities to educate and raise awareness about your cause.
3) Customer Donations at Checkout
For October, many stores will fundraise for a Breast Cancer charity via customer donations. This is a great way to help raise funds for a worthy cause.
If you are an online retailer, there are other tools available. With Virtue, we make it easy to add customer donations as part of your shop's online experience. Simply install our integration, and give your shoppers the option to support a breast cancer charity.
4) Give a percentage of Sales
Many businesses will support charities directly with a percentage of sales from each item going towards a preferred UK charity. Whether you are working with a Magento Charity Donation Extension or a Shopify Charity App, there are some great tools available to be used.
5) Pink takeover
Show your support and share a bold message by changing your brand colours to pink during the Wear it Pink campaign, or ever throughout the awareness month.
Excited to see all the great and creative ways eCommerce retailers show Breast Cancer Awareness Month support this October!
And if you are giving from sales - Virtue makes teaming up with great Charities and supporting from sales super simple. With all your store-front assets provided. Instal Virtue via your eCommerce App Store.
Check out some other causes to donate to
Guide: How to Run a Giving Campaign
How to choose a cause
How to Pick a Giving Style
Launch Checklist
Cause Calendar
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