October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual worldwide health campaign to increase awareness of the disease and to help raise funds for investigation about its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. During October, breast cancer survivors and the families of survivors and victims take advantage of the focus to share their stories.

Back in 1985, Breast Cancer Awareness Week was started as a partnership between the pharmaceutical division of chemical industries and the American Cancer Society. Betty Ford, wife of President Gerald Ford, helped start what was then a week-long event. She was a breast cancer survivor herself, diagnosed while her husband was President of the United States, and she used even more observation to breast cancer.

The early goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Week, and later Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was to teach people, especially women, about breast cancer and diagnosis tests so they could take demand of their breast health. One of the key goals that they wanted to reach was to encourage mammograms as an important tool to be used in the fight in opposition of breast cancer. Men do get breast cancer, but in much smaller numbers.

In 1992, the first nationwide advance used the familiar pink ribbon, promoted by Estee Lauder Cosmetics. They passed out an impressive 1.5 million of those ribbons, which led to the Pink Ribbon as the top visual reminder of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The National Football League (NFL) has become one of the biggest supporters of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nearly all players, coaches and referees display the Pink Ribbon, or something in pink, each October to show their support.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance for everyone to take time and appreciate those women and men whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. You can help support the cause by participating in a virtual run. Sign up here.