October is breast cancer awareness month and although we should keep this issue in the forefront of our minds all year round, I would like to acknowledge it by making a blog entry in honor of my beautiful, hilarious and courageous friend and sister. Here are a few ideas that will fit in effortlessly during your wedding plans or wedding day, but will make an important impact on supporting breast cancer research and awareness.
Excepts from The Knot...
From the dress to the favors, here's how you can help fight breast cancer.
1. Run or walk the Race for the Cure with your loved ones and support
Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
How to Do It: Grab your bridesmaids, fiance, and family and sign up to walk or run a national or local race that benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Go to Komen.org to find and register for one of the five sponsored Susan G. Komen for the Cure marathons taking place this year and commit to raising $2,200 for the cause, or sign up for a local race in your area. There are over 100 events annually, so you can be sure there's one going on near you.
How It Helps: The 26-year-old foundation is the leading breast cancer awareness grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working to cure breast cancer and raise awareness nationwide.
2. Buy your wedding favors through a Breast Cancer Site.
How to Do It: Shop The Breast Cancer Site store and choose from a large offering of votive candles, bracelets, and pins. Give them out as favors at your wedding shower or for all your guests at your reception.
How It Helps: The Breast Cancer Site gives free mammograms (one of the best early detection methods for breast cancer) to underprivileged women in low-income areas who don't have the means to pay for an exam themselves. Funds from the site's store go to providing these free mammograms.
3. Donate or buy your wedding dress and benefit the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation's "Brides Against Breast Cancer" project.
How to Do It: Go to the Brides Against Breast Cancer website to find out how to package your wedding gown and send it off to the program after your wedding day. They'll sell it at one of many wedding dress sale events held across the country, and all the money will go to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation fund. (A bonus: Your donation is tax-deductible.) Still on the hunt for the perfect wedding dress? Browse the racks at one of their sales. Check the calendar of events on their site to find out more.
How It Helps: The Brides Against Breast Cancer project is a part of Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, which works to grant wishes, fund "memory-making moments" for metastatic breast cancer patients, and raise breast cancer resource awareness across the country.
4. In lieu of traditional wedding favors, donate to the Pink Envelope Project in your guests' honor.
How to Do It: Make your donation through the website Pink Envelope Project. The site recommends a $3 to $10 donation per guest. Once you've sent in your donation, they'll send you the requested amount of wedding favor cards to use at your reception. The cards are pink (of course!) and include a thank-you to your guests.
How It Helps: The Pink Envelope Project is another initiative by the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. It encourages third-party hosted events across the country -- from casual dress days in the workplace to wedding receptions -- to raise money for the foundation.
5. Set up an Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Registry Tribute Fund.
How to Do It: Go to their website and set up an Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Registry Tribute Fund. There, you can upload your picture, tell your wedding story, and share your passion for breast cancer awareness. Once you've created your page, you'll be able to send out emails to your wedding guests and add a link to your wedding web page encouraging guests to donate to the cause.
How It Helps: Having raised over $525 million in over 50 countries, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade benefits educational programs, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, research, and breast cancer support services worldwide.
How to Do It: Grab your bridesmaids, fiance, and family and sign up to walk or run a national or local race that benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Go to Komen.org to find and register for one of the five sponsored Susan G. Komen for the Cure marathons taking place this year and commit to raising $2,200 for the cause, or sign up for a local race in your area. There are over 100 events annually, so you can be sure there's one going on near you.
How It Helps: The 26-year-old foundation is the leading breast cancer awareness grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working to cure breast cancer and raise awareness nationwide.
2. Buy your wedding favors through a Breast Cancer Site.
How to Do It: Shop The Breast Cancer Site store and choose from a large offering of votive candles, bracelets, and pins. Give them out as favors at your wedding shower or for all your guests at your reception.
How It Helps: The Breast Cancer Site gives free mammograms (one of the best early detection methods for breast cancer) to underprivileged women in low-income areas who don't have the means to pay for an exam themselves. Funds from the site's store go to providing these free mammograms.
3. Donate or buy your wedding dress and benefit the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation's "Brides Against Breast Cancer" project.
How to Do It: Go to the Brides Against Breast Cancer website to find out how to package your wedding gown and send it off to the program after your wedding day. They'll sell it at one of many wedding dress sale events held across the country, and all the money will go to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation fund. (A bonus: Your donation is tax-deductible.) Still on the hunt for the perfect wedding dress? Browse the racks at one of their sales. Check the calendar of events on their site to find out more.
How It Helps: The Brides Against Breast Cancer project is a part of Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, which works to grant wishes, fund "memory-making moments" for metastatic breast cancer patients, and raise breast cancer resource awareness across the country.
4. In lieu of traditional wedding favors, donate to the Pink Envelope Project in your guests' honor.
How to Do It: Make your donation through the website Pink Envelope Project. The site recommends a $3 to $10 donation per guest. Once you've sent in your donation, they'll send you the requested amount of wedding favor cards to use at your reception. The cards are pink (of course!) and include a thank-you to your guests.
How It Helps: The Pink Envelope Project is another initiative by the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. It encourages third-party hosted events across the country -- from casual dress days in the workplace to wedding receptions -- to raise money for the foundation.
5. Set up an Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Registry Tribute Fund.
How to Do It: Go to their website and set up an Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Registry Tribute Fund. There, you can upload your picture, tell your wedding story, and share your passion for breast cancer awareness. Once you've created your page, you'll be able to send out emails to your wedding guests and add a link to your wedding web page encouraging guests to donate to the cause.
How It Helps: Having raised over $525 million in over 50 countries, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade benefits educational programs, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, research, and breast cancer support services worldwide.
Last but not least, check out the gorgeous tote up top... such a beautiful gift for every bridesmaid in your destination wedding party. Great way to show your support for breast cancer research while having a bridal party look smart, trendy and oh so cool! Go to Sea Bags to check out all three styles.
Your wedding planner Lisa, who asks every reader to please do your monthly exams and have your yearly mammograms!
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