October is a favorite month for many reasons: the air becomes crisp, the leaves change, the sky seems bluer, Halloween is around the corner, Pumpkin Spice and Salted Caramel Lattes are everywhere, horror movie marathons, the BEST scented candles flood Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works, etc. However, what many do not realize is that October has become national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast Cancer affects millions each year and the numbers are rapidly increasing. I myself was not a person who paid too much attention to the disease until tragedy struck a close friend of mine. It became even more apparent when my own mother was afflicted with the disease. I remember crying as she told me, her face soft with concern not for herself, but for how hard I was taking the news. I won’t ever forget her voice as she told me, “Heather, I’m going to be alright. You’ll see. I’m going to beat this thing.” Not once did her strength nor her courage falter. She asked not to be treated any differently, but for only myself, my brother, sister and father to help her out when she needed to go to treatments or to help keep the house in order.
Danielle, Sandy, and Heather Glock at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2013 at Jones BeachNow she is a few months into remission and her desire to raise awareness is just as strong as her courage through her affliction. The moral of the story is that you never think you or a loved one can be effected, but it can happen. Some may be at a higher risk than others without even knowing. According to the Cancer Society of America, 232,670 women per year [as of 2014] are diagnosed with breast cancer. That’s new cases alone from those already diagnosed. An alarming rate of 40,000 women will die from this disease per year.
So what can you do? You may not be an oncologist, nurse, or anything in the field, but you still can help. Awareness is such an important factor for this month because we want the world to be aware of how many women are afflicted by this disease each year. You can help by joining the walks across America in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Events or making a contribution to the American Cancer Society. Help Cliché Magazine in the fight against cancer by logging into the American Cancer Society Walk Page or donating to Cliché Magazine Team. I myself will personally be walking at the Jones Beach Walk on October 19. All are welcome to join me as I walk to raise awareness for my mother, the family members of friends who survived or passed on, and those who I have not met, but are afflicted or have survived. You can follow me on Twitter as I update my track throughout the day on October 19. Let’s raise awareness together and fight cancer in unity.
Click here to find a ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk’ date in your home state!
Featured Image Courtesy of The American Cancer Society
