Forum Discussion

Deanne's avatar
Deanne
Member
12 years ago

Breast Cancer Awareness?

I am just wondering about the aim of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I imagine it is to draw people's attention to BC, educate them about risk factors, early detection and raise money for research etc. It would seem that some companies and individuals are using the promotion of BC this month for their own advantage. Last week I received an email from an on-line company using the Shop Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month promotion. It went on to suggest to customers that they should "wear pink to support the cause of Breast Cancer". They then displayed a huge range of their products (bras etc) in various shades of pink. At first I thought that maybe a percentage of sales were being donated to the BC Foundation or something but could not find anything about this in the email. I then emailed them asking was this the case or were they simply using BC Awareness Month to sell their own products. The reply I received was that some brands were donating their profit to BC cause (this was the brand companies doing this not the company who sent the email) and that they were not asking customers to buy products but simply asking them to WEAR pink! As the email promotion was headed SHOP PINK FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH I would argue this point. Am I the only one who thinks this is wrong? If individuals and companies are using BC Awareness promotion to market their own products then are the messages about BC getting through to the public or is it just about looking pretty in pink for the month? Is this the image that the public have about BC? I want people to understand the reality of how traumatic this disease is. The preoccupation with the colour pink is not doing this. For companies to profit from the Pink promotion means they are profiting from the suffering of the thousands of women (and the men) who are diagnosed (and die) of this disease every year. There should be something we can do about this. :( Deanne

3 Replies

Sort By
  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    12 years ago

    There are many wonderful businesses out there who do do the right thing and contribute to the fundraising to find a cure. It is fantastic that you and your husband help out in this way.

    Unfortunately the colour pink is not able to be protected like the actual breast cancer pink ribbon symbol from use by businesses who are simply taking advantage of breast cancer promotion (paid for no doubt by money raised by legitimate business and individuals) to sell their own products. To take advantage of people's good natures in thinking that by purchasing a product that they are contributing to the cause of breast cancer is just so wrong. They obviously have no idea of the reality of breast cancer and I agree with your wish for Karma to come their way! Deanne

  • annie58's avatar
    annie58
    Member
    12 years ago

    Hi girls,

    I agree with you entirely about people jumping on the wagon to make themselves a quick dollar  by making out they are associated  with BCNA or NBFC. May Karma come and bite them on the bum.

    Last year I developed an idea that was bags of potting mix , in pink bags with the NBFC logo on it.. The company that took on the idea donated 50 cents for everybag to breast cancer research.( NBCF). The company my husband works for, also  donated a cheque, for $10000 which I delivered to NBCF in Sydney. The potting mix is on sale again at Bunnings and the donation has happened again. A contract is made with NBCF allowing the company the use of the logo for a specific term. Some companies pay to use the logo all year around. .

    I think by the time October has passed we are all pinked out and just want a break  from pink. Unfortunately breast cancer just keeps coming and we need to keep fundraising to find a cure.

    I hope my Pink Potting mix continues for many years, as a thankyou for everthing that was done for me.

    Annie

  • JeanineG's avatar
    JeanineG
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Deanne You have highlighted a very real issue about how companies abuse the pink symbol to gain profit from breast cancer awareness. Many companies do the same thing and people don't realise that no money is donated to research or to BCNA or any other legitimate organisations. There should be standards by which the commercial use of the pink symbol is regulated. It's a sad, sad world we live in where people take advantage of the suffering of others to make profit for themselves. Xxx Jeanine