Esteé Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness ‘Pink Ribbon Campaign’ Marks 25 Year Milestone

Oct 1, 2017: Breast Cancer is the second most leading cause of death by among women. The chances of a woman dying from breast cancer are 1 in 37. There is a dire need to spread awareness about breast cancer. Though the deaths from breast cancer have reduced from 1980 till 2007, there is still a lot more work needs that to be done.

The breast cancer awareness was started by Charlotte Hayley, who had battled breast cancer. She brought in the concept of using a peach color breast cancer awareness ribbon. The peach colored ribbon piqued the interest of the editor of the Self magazine, Alexandra Penney, who was then working on the 1992 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month issue. He offered Charlotte to work with her idea, but Charlotte rejected saying that the proposal would make her awareness drive too commercial. Unable to use the peach ribbon, the Self Magazine and the other people who were interested in promoting breast cancer awareness decide to use the pink color. This was the beginning of the concept to use a pink ribbon to promote awareness and thus the idea for pink ribbon campaign.

The pink ribbon has been a symbol of fear of cancer, hope for the future and the goodness of the people who support the awareness programme. It has been the empowering symbol for millions for the past 25 years. Some organizations like the Pink Ribbon International use the pink ribbon as their primary logo. The pink ribbon, ever since it was created has been helping people to live through and beyond breast cancer by supporting and encouraging them.

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The campaign today is active in over 70 countries including India and has collaborated with more than 60 regional organizations to provide help in the most needed areas. The activity of the campaign has led to a 38% decrease in breast cancer mortality rates.

To celebrate the success of their campaign, Esteé Lauder has decided to launch their Pink Ribbon inspired collection of cosmetics. 20% of the profits will be donated to research in the field of curing breast cancer. The Pink Ribbon campaign is no longer only a breast cancer awareness drive, but it has become the symbol of the women who have gone through it and have come out of this stronger. This campaign gives hope to all the women who have breast cancer and unites them with a single thread of hope and shows them that they are not alone.

The Pink Campaign is a tribute to its late founder Evelyn Lauder who first launched the pink ribbon. The pink ribbon today has crossed the 25-year milestone, and to honor the 25^th anniversary, the Esteé Lauder Companies have decided on a new mission: To create a breast cancer-free world. 25 years ago, Evelyn Lauder saw women dying of breast cancer, and there was nothing done to prevent it. Thus she became the pioneer of the Pink Ribbon campaign which eventually became the global leader in breast cancer awareness.

Prepared by Saloni Hindocha of Newsgram