Think Pink :)

If you've noticed even more pink everywhere you go lately, I hope you've taken the time to ask and figure out that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Stats are startling how often this disease occurs in women - pretty much everyone you meet has a story. My mom is a breast cancer survivor - 10 years cancer-free in July 2008! :)

Good news - there are so many things you can do to get involve in supporting medical research, specially related to breast cancer. Most of them probably don't even altar your healthy daily routine. So check out these suggestions, and help make a difference. Keep in mind that every little bit helps, and there is no donation of time, money, or effort that is too small.

1. TRAIN FOR A 5K. ww5.komen.org/home/

The Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised a billion dollars to date in breast cancer research and has committed to raise another $2 billion over the next decade. A 5K is just 3.1 miles. It's a great distance for someone who's never done a race before, and a favorite distance among routine racers! Even better, unlike longer distances, the training program doesn't take long. You can be ready for a 5k in a couple of weeks! Find the race closest to you at http://cms.komen.org/komen/NewsEvents/FindAnEvent/index.htm?ssSourceNodeId=505&ssSourceSiteId=Komen/

2. RACING DESERVES NEW RUNNING SHOES. www.newbalance.com/komen

To best prevent injury and keep you safe, runners should change their running shoes every 350-400 miles. Also, a great way to keep your shoes at their best is to alternate between 2 pairs of running shoes. If you alternate your shoes, you can make them last twice as long instead of just beating up the same pair everyday. So, you will actually save money in the long run by having 2 pairs of running shoes! New Balance continues its Lace Up for the Cure® program benefiting research. From January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, New Balance will donate fifteen percent of wholesale sales for each product sold from the Lace Up for the Cure® Pink Ribbon Collection. Lace Up footwear and apparel is distinguished by pink tissue paper in the shoebox, as well as hang-tags, and other in-store signage.

3. SWITCH TO YOPLAIT YOGURT. www.yoplait.com

A study done at the University of Tennessee showed that those who incorporated fat free or low-fat yogurt into their diet program lost signifiantly more weight and maintained weight loss longer than those who did not include low-fat dairy products in their diet. Plus, Yoplait sponsors the Save Lids to Save Lives® program, which takes place throughout September and October each year. For each pink lid mailed in by customers, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to breast cancer research with a guaranteed donation of $500,000.

4. A DONATION THAT KEEPS GOING AND GOING. www.energizer.com/komen
Energizer® supports the breast cancer movement by offering consumers the opportunity to receive a limited edition "Keep Going" Charm Bracelet, by redeeming three proofs of purchase from select Energizer® products by December 31, 2007. So you get to support breast cancer while adding to your jewelrey collection! :) Energizer will also donate $1.00 to Komen for each Charm Bracelet redeemed up to a maximum donation of $10,000. During the month of October, Energizer® will donate $0.50 to Komen for each battery pack sold with a minimum guaranteed donation of $100,000 up to a maximum donation of $200,000.

5. ADD A WHOLE GRAIN CRUNCH TO YOUR SNACK. www.sunships.com

There aren't too many bags of chips that have ever found their way into my pantry. These whole grain basked chips are an exception. SunChips® brand created the Crunch for the Cure SunChips® pink ribbon bag program. Consumers can submit proofs of purchase from specially marked bags of SunChips® Snacks online, and SunChips® will donate 25 cents to Komen for the Cure for each proof of purchase submitted with a minimum guarantee of $100,000 up to $350,000.

To view an article on breast cancer prevention, follow this link: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/article/0,6176,s1-3-181-1915-1,00.html