Pink October: mobilizing to raise breast cancer awareness

What is Pink October?

Created in 1994, October Rose is an annual campaign to raise awareness, inform women and men and raise funds for breast cancer research throughout the month of October. Symbolized by the pink ribbon, the campaign’s slogan is: “From the age of 50, get tested every two years: you’ll thank yourself.

To mark the occasion, the Pink Ribbon association, which leads awareness-raising and research initiatives on breast cancer , is inviting organizations, companies and individuals to mobilize around this public health issue, which represents the leading cause of cancer mortality in women.

What is the aim of Pink October?

The aim of Pink October is to encourage women to undergo regular screening by a healthcare professional (gynecologist, midwife, general practitioner). In France, 1 in 8 women is affected by breast cancer, making it the most common type of cancer in this population. In 2023, there will be just over 61200 new cases of cancer and 12,000 deaths.

Although screening is recommended for women over the age of 50, where risks exist( familyhistory of breast cancer ), younger women are encouraged to undergo screening as early as possible. With medical, surgical and technological advances, early treatment of breast cancer offers a 99% chance of 5-year survival. The prospects for a cure are therefore very promising.

How to run a pink October campaign in your company?

Every company, whatever its budget, can take action to raise awareness, inform employees and collect donations for breast cancer research. Here are a few initiatives you can implement, depending on your budget:

For small budgets:

• Distribution of informative brochures to your employees to raise awareness of the importance of screening;
• Displaying awareness posters. If your employees regularly visit your premises, this is a good way of alerting them, getting their attention and then taking action;
• Organize a “Pink Day”. On this day, invite your employees to wear t-shirts in the colors of Pink October, and roll out a communication campaign to remind them of what’s at stake and the actions they can take (talking to friends and family to encourage screening, contacting a healthcare professional, etc.);
• Informal discussion workshops to share information (contacts with professionals and associations) and experiences in a relaxed atmosphere.

For medium budgets :

• Awareness-raising sessions led by experts. Invite healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, gynecologists, midwives, association representatives) to provide specific information on preventing cancer and encouraging screening, and to demonstrate self-palpation gestures;
• Creation of an internal support group. This more intimate group encourages the sharing of information and support among colleagues who have been affected by cancer in one way or another;
• Organization of a fundraising contest for an association.

For higher budgets:

• A seminar on women’s health. The aim is to discuss various women’s health issues, including breast cancer, to raise awareness of the risks and good habits to adopt (diet, lifestyle, sport, etc.);
• Partnership with a local association to screen for breast cancer. The aim is to facilitate access to screening for female employees;
• Organization of a charity sports event to promote well-being while raising funds for breast cancer research (e.g. running, walking).

OuiLive supports you throughout Pink October

Looking for a fun, engaging way to get your employees involved in Pink October? We’ve got just what you’re looking for. At OuiLive, we offer companies a connected Pink October challenge with different activities to engage and raise awareness among teams:

• Teaching content ;
• Connected races ;
• Quiz ;
• Pedometer ;
• Creative challenges.

And for this event, we’re proud to be working with theRuban Rose association. Want to find out more? Discover our Pink October challenge and the companies that have already put their trust in us !