Have you recently come across a post on Facebook that says: “It’s confirmed, I’m going to be a daddy/mommy” ? 

When you ‘liked’ or commented on the status what happened?

You probably got a message like: “Sorry,you should not have liked or commented!!!! Now you have to pick from one of these below and post it to your status. This is THE 2016 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS game. Don’t be a spoil sport, pick your poison from one of these and change your status, 1) Damn diarrhea 2) Just used my boobs to get out of a speeding ticket 3) How do you get rid of foot fungus 4) No toilet paper, goodbye socks. 5) I think I’m in love with someone, what should I do? 6) I’ve decided to stop wearing underwear 7) it’s confirmed, I’m going to be a Mommy/Daddy! 8) Just won $900 on a scratch card 9) I’ve just found out I’ve been cheated on the past 5 months. Post with no explanations. So sorry, I fell for it too. Looking forward to your post.”

What is breast cancer awareness in that? Personally I see this little game as an insult on the people who give everything to campaign and create awareness about the condition.

How does that compare with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building turning pink every weekend in October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Now that is one mighty effort. everyone seeing it will definitely ask a question about breast cancer. It easily impresses something on the mind.

So if you genuinely want to raise awareness about breast cancer in the month of October, what should you do?

Here are some suggestions.

1. Make a donation 

There are hundreds of people worldwide who are suffering from breast cancer and require funds to pull through. Your donation will go a long way to ease their pain. You may also contribute to local breast cancer foundations around you or cancer researches around the world. If you are in Nigeria, you can support Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), a not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation galvanizing action against breast cancer in Nigeria. Founded in 1997 by Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, a breast cancer survivor herself, the association  aims at improving the lives of many touched by breast cancer who would have succumbed to the disease due to ignorance and lack of support.

2. Host an awareness event 

It doesn’t have to be a huge event. It could be small, it could be medium or big as long as it is aimed at letting people know the facts about the condition or providing support for them. An idea that would make such events more impactful is an arrangement for free or subsidised testing for participants. Breast cancer awareness event organisers can also collaborate with relevant governmental agencies and non governmental organisations like: The Bloom, COPE, MWAN, Genevieve etc in Nigeria.

3. Volunteer

The first and second suggestions may require some finances. In case you don’t have money but you have time and energy or expertise to share, good for you. You can still employ these effectively to raise awareness about  Breast cancer this month of October. It is easy. Just look for organisations working on the awareness campaigns and work with them for free for the month. Doing this makes you an ambassador of hope.

It is a thoroughly known fact that awareness is one of the most important steps in winning the battle. Awareness leads to knowledge and early detection.

4. Wear pink ribbon

This looks like the the simplest way to raise awareness but there is a caveat: you must have the required knowledge base to educate any and everyone who asks you about the ribbon. You most have facts like locations of hospitals offering free or subsidised testing and /or treatment. You should also be able to explain hoe tho do the self breast examination or have a material to explain it. You should also know organisations working on awareness campaign and cancer support groups.

Are there other suggestions you know? Please add generously to the comment section.