Chances are you know someone who has had breast cancer — you may even be battling it yourself. Breast cancer doesn’t just impact patients and survivors — it impacts all of us. In the United States, one in eight women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in her lifetime. These women aren’t just statistics — they’re our sisters, our mothers, our daughters, and our friends. Even with modern screening methods, thousands of women are still affected each year.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re sharing easy ways to donate to a great cause, because every single woman diagnosed with breast cancer is one too many. We owe it to each other to do everything we can to fight breast cancer using one of the most effective tools available: research. That’s why we’re spotlighting some unexpected ways to help fund breast cancer research — including by shopping at Talbots, a major financial supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. So, this October, make your money go even further by supporting organizations that fund this life-saving work.
1. Raise money just by shopping at your favorite store
From September 18th through October 15th, Talbots is offering something spectacular: the Talbots Cares Card. 100% of the $25 purchase price of the cards will go directly to BCRF.* Plus, when you buy a Cares Card, you’ll get 15% off of one Talbots purchase either in-store or online between October 4th and 15th, so you can pat yourself on the back for making an important donation and saving yourself some cash in the process. If you’re shopping in-store, Talbots will also collect donations at registers, so you can put all of those small bills and coins weighing down your wallet to good use.
Think that’s already a big commitment from Talbots? There’s more: On Saturday, October 7th, Talbots will donate 10% percent of all sales in stores and online to BCRF.* To take this partnership even further, Talbots developed the Talbots x BCRF Perfect Wrap, and Talbots will be donating 20% of the wrap’s purchase price to BCRF.* Talbots has spent decades designing apparel that makes women feel great, so it’s no surprise that they’re one of the most generous retailers around when it comes to supporting breast cancer research.
2. Download an app that gives back
Givebacks is a free app that partners with over 25,000 retailers to donate a percentage of sales to a nonprofit of your choice. (The percentage varies depending on the retailer, but those dollars do add up quickly.) You can either shop on your phone or via a plugin on your computer and choose from a wide variety of charities — both national and local — for your money to support. That means you can choose anything from BCRF to local organizations that provide access to free breast cancer screenings in your city.
3. Travel smartly
Delta’s also a major supporter of breast cancer research: Each October, the airline supports BCRF through a variety of in-flight initiatives — last year, they donated a percentage of all in-flight purchases to BCRF throughout the month. If you’re a frequent flier, Delta also offers the option to donate your SkyMiles to BCRF. BCRF uses these donated miles to connect breast cancer researchers across the globe, so they can share their findings and further advance their understanding of the disease.
4. See if your company will match a donation
If you’d prefer a more traditional donation, you can make your money work even harder…and get your coworkers excited, too. Several companies will match your donation to BCRF and other nonprofits, meaning you’re raising twice as much money as you’re giving. A $50 donation to BCRF funds a lab staffer to analyze an hour of new clinical trial data, so check to see if your company will make it two.
5. Send a gift to a friend battling cancer
If you’re looking to support a friend facing a diagnosis, it can be tough to figure out what to do, beyond telling them you love them. Through a new company called Unite for Her, you can send them a care box curated by a group of medical and wellness professionals who know firsthand what will help women during treatment. They’ll receive an assortment of goodies like a cozy robe, a cancer-specific cookbook, and clean beauty products vetted by specialists.
Whether you’re looking to treat yourself to something new, buy a gift for a loved one, or make a simple monetary donation, there’s no better time than Breast Cancer Awareness Month to support patients and survivors. So do your part and get shopping!
*For more information, visit www.talbots.com/bcrf
