Breast Cancer: Awareness Rubber Bracelets

There are infinite number of charities that work for cancer patients. People donate huge sums of money to various organizations, sometimes even we donate but little do we know where the money goes and how it is utilized. So instead of taking huge amounts of donations, the charities and foundations have come up with a new idea that is more transparent. People know where their money is going and how it’s being utilized. The idea was to raise awareness by distributing bracelets that carry slogans in support of the cause.

Lance Armstrong’s cancer awareness campaign was a huge success and till date his cancer research foundation has raised about $28 million by selling ‘LIVESTRONG’ rubber cancer awareness bracelets. Lance Armstrong, a seven time Tour de France winner, is himself a cancer survivor. His rubber bracelets have done a great job in raising the cancer awareness.

Breast cancer awareness rubber bracelets come next to Armstrong’s cancer bracelets in generating awareness and funds. However, unlike ‘LIVESTRONG’ bands which come only in yellow color, breast cancer awareness bracelets come in different colors, the most popular being the pink color. These inexpensive bracelets are a good way to raise money for charitable cause.

The breast cancer awareness bracelet campaign conveys its solidarity with women who suffer from breast cancer, and are in agony and pain. A study estimates that one in every eight women in the US is likely to develop breast cancer in her lifetime. And to add to it, low income women often surrender to the disease. The pink colored bracelets have the slogan like "support, knowledge and strength" or "early detection saves life". These bracelets truly make a statement that is beyond style.

We wonder how the breast awareness campaign bracelets got the color pink. The story behind it is that Charlotte Haley, a 68 year old women, first started making and distributing peach ribbons in 1990s that had cards which read, "The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislatures and America by wearing this ribbon." Haley’s daughter, sister and her grandmother were effected by the breast cancer too. Self magazine thought to use Haley’s ribbon but she declined saying they were too commercial. It was then that the magazine decided on the color pink because they thought it was soothing, comforting, healing and most importantly a color that most women like.

These bracelets may not necessarily be made up of silicone or rubber. They instead, can be made up of pearl, metal or any other material. Do you know that there are stainless steel breast cancer awareness bracelets too. The difference between them and rubber bracelets is only in price. Rubber bracelets can cost you around a dollar whereas, pearl bracelets can cost around $30 but, their purpose is same i.e. to raise awareness. The advantage of rubber breast cancer awareness bracelets is that you can order them in any color with any message stamped on them. There is no need to take them off while playing or bathing, in fact, these are all weather bracelets.

Wearing a breast cancer awareness rubber bracelet, shows that one is concerned about the breast cancer patients and is supporting foundations and charities working to raise breast cancer awareness in the world. Moreover, they are affordable. Wear these bands, raise awareness in the society and be a part of a revolution!