Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, and it’s also the second leading cause of cancer death for women.
But thanks to the efforts of organizations across the country promoting awareness and providing access to better treatments, the rate of death from breast cancer has continued to drop. There has been a 23% decline since a peak in 1991 — meaning more than 1.7 million lives saved.
But there’s still work to be done. That’s why October is an important month to bring awareness, raise funds for research and cures, and teach prevention.
In your own community, your funeral home can help make a difference. Here’s how:
Host an event
Consider putting on an event to help raise funds for the cause. There’s an endless amount of ideas to choose from. Here are a few:
- Host a charity dinner
- Organize a raffle/silent auction
- Participate in a bake sale
- Set up a neighborhood BBQ and collect donations
- Have a golf tournament with a participation fee
- Organize a volunteer event at a local hospital or hospice
- Host an educational event with the community to promote awareness
The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a free toolkit to help organize a fundraiser for the cause. Click here to learn more.
Fundraise online
As a funeral director, there’s always work to be done. If you don’t think you’ll have time to participate in or organize an event, you can leverage your social media to raise awareness and donations online.
In addition to running a fundraiser, you also can share educational resources about breast cancer with your families and followers via your blog or Facebook. For more information on how to set up a campaign through Facebook, click here.
Participate in a walk or run
You and your staff also can participate in a charity run/walk. Participating in a walk is a way to honor those in your community who may have lost a loved one to breast cancer. It’s also a way to bond with your staff, help raise awareness and funds, and it build a stronger bond between your funeral home and the community. To find a race or event near you, click here.
Memorial and aftercare ideas
Unfortunately, there may be families in your community who have lost a loved one to breast cancer. There are a lot of ways your funeral home can reach out to honor them:
- You could send their family a handwritten letter or card.
- You can share grief resources and literature with them.
- You can host a private luncheon or dinner with families who have lost a loved one.
- Your funeral home can make a donation in their honor.
Resources for families
Here are some great resources for education and awareness to share within your community:
- Coping with the loss of a loved one from cancer — American Cancer Society
- National Mammography Program — National Breast Cancer Foundation. Inc.
- Breast Cancer Resources and Statistics — Breast Cancer Research Foundation
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