The power of pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is everywhere!

The pink ribbon has become one of the most salable emblems for a cause of all time.

And it keeps growing. Everybody wants a piece of pink.

While thumbing through an Oriental Trading Company catalog, I noticed it featured 11 pages of pink ribbon party merchandise available for parties, fund-raising, and awareness-raising events.

When I did the Komen 3-Day for the Cure 60-mile walk in 2006, the catalog featured only two pages of pink ribbon items.

Yesterday, I received a Herrschners catalog. For anyone who doesn't know, Herrschners is the premier source for crafts from knitting to paint-by-number.

This year, Herrschners features "Think Pink" yarn, a "Hope" latch hook rug kit, a "Think Pink: Crochet for the Cure" book of patterns. A portion of the sales from the book go to breast cancer research.

Because it's so recognizable, the pink ribbon has been extremely successful in promoting awareness and raising funds. Since its inception in 1982, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised over $1.5 billion dollars for cancer research.

This year alone, the Detroit Race for the Cure raised $1.5 million.

So what is the attraction of the color pink?

When I see a display of products featuring the pink ribbon, I am drawn to it like a magnet. I have to go over, check out the products, pick them up and examine them. And yes, I've brought my share of them -- and will continue to do so.

Pink is somewhere between the innocence of white and the passion of red, and just maybe somewhere in that mix is the power of pink.

According to the article "Color therapy and your wardrobe - wearing your emotions," by Phylameana lila Desy:

"Most people associate pink with babies, little girls, and feminine energies. But more than feeling feminine, wearing pink conveys compassion and an open heart. When people are wearing pink, whether they are male or female, they appear approachable and capable of loving others. If you want to feel heart-connected reach for that pastel pink sweater from your closet to wear."

Pink has the power to connect us, and within the breast cancer community there is a powerful sense of connection -- that's what brought me into the cause.

"Year's ago, I met a coworker who was a breast cancer survivor. She told me her story. We walked in the Race for the Cure together.
"Now everyone in this office has a connection (to breast cancer,) she said, "because they know me."

I wrote those words back in 2006 when I began my 3-Day journey and I still feel the same way today.

The pink ribbon keeps us connected to a cause -- breast cancer awareness -- and by doing that it keeps it in our sight and in our minds -- and saves lives in the process.


Cherie's pink pick: Breast Cancer Crusade Lips for Life Novelty Tote ($5 at Avon.com.) 100% of net profits donated to Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

Other links:

Men are not immune from breast cancer -- Peter Criss of the rock band "Kiss" shares his story here: Men get breast cancer too.

Also check out -- Breast Cancer Myths: 8 biggies debunked.

Both links -- as well as the cute bra photo -- courtesy of CBS News.