I'm a Warrior in Pink. Are you?



Photo Credit: Ford's Warrior in Pink



Each year, women and men across American take part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And each year, we all do something to help make a difference. From turning in yogurt lids to walking the 3-day Susan G. Koman race, we all do our part to support the research for a cure. We buy the cute pink stuff with the cute pink ribbon, and then as soon as November hits--we turn our focus to the holidays. However, breast cancer isn't a one month,problem. It's a lifelong battle that many of us have endured or will endure at some point in our lives. According to the Young Survival Coalition, more than 250,000 women living in the U.S. who were 40 years old or younger when they were diagnosed with breast cancer. And as we get older, that number will only increase. Livestrong.com states that the average woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, she only has a 1 in 1,760 chance of developing the disease in her 20s. In her 30s, her chances increase to 1 in 229.

What if we could stop the need to find a cure, and instead, find the cause? Thanks to an organization called the Army of Women, you can. They focus on breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women, breast cancer survivors, and women of high-risk (so basically, anyone reading this blog post can volunteer to participate). Today you could make an impact and become one of the 1 million women fighting for a future without breast cancer. It takes 4 easy steps that could make a difference in a woman's life.

So, will you join me in becoming a warrior?

The Army of Women study isn't the only way you can become a warrior. Below are some other options:

1. Talk to your company about joining the Promise Action campaign to encourage your fellow employees to get screened.
2. Become a breast cancer advocate and contact your Senators, Governors, Assemly members, and Council members.
3. Join the Young Survival Coalition and adopt a hospital. All you have to do is find a local hospital and work with the Young Survival Coalition to provide publications and resources to help young women prevent, diagnose, and/or manage breast cancer.

Bottom Line:  I often say to my BodyPump class members, "in order to make real change, we have to get out of our comfort zones". Meaning, to make a real difference, we have to give real effort. However you choose to participate in the battle against breast cancer,  be sure to do it for the women who've fought the battle, the women who will fight the battle, and hopefully the women who will never have to fight the battle.

This post is dedicated in loving memory to Dee Miles Robinson, a true warrior, amazing mother, and wonderful friend.